ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY’S · 1 PROJECT BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION During the early 20th century Anne...

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ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY’S

HISTORIC BEACH DESTINATIONS

(Late 19th

to early 20th

century)

Report for the Learn S’Mores History Project: A Heritage Research and Public Outreach

Initiative, focusing on Anne Arundel County’s early 20th Century Beach Resorts and

Communities

by Mandy Melton, M.A.

Submitted to the Anne Arundel County Trust for Preservation, Inc.

June 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Project Background ..................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................1

Project Overview & Goals ....................................................................................................................................3

Public Outreach Events ........................................................................................................................................3

Research Methods ................................................................................................................................................3

Report Structure ....................................................................................................................................................4

Results: Contextual Background ..............................................................................................................................6

Types of Beach Destinations ................................................................................................................................6

General Historic Development of Beach Recreation In Anne Arundel county ....................................................7

Results: Sites Identified ..........................................................................................................................................17

North County/ Patapsco River ............................................................................................................................17

Magothy River ....................................................................................................................................................31

Severn River & Broadneck Peninsula ................................................................................................................39

Annapolis Area ...................................................................................................................................................46

Upper South River ..............................................................................................................................................52

Rhode River And Mayo Peninsula .....................................................................................................................56

South County ......................................................................................................................................................61

Discussion and Recommendations .........................................................................................................................71

Appendix A: Public Outreach Events/Material ....................................................................................................... i

Appendix B: Maps Used During Cartographic Study ............................................................................................. i

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TABLE OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Historic beach resorts and communities in Anne Arundel County ...........................................................2

Figure 2: Areas discussed in report ..........................................................................................................................5

Figure 3: Transportation Routes ca.1920 (excerpt from Map of Maryland Showing Highways, Steam and

Electric Railways, and Steamboat Lines, Maryland Geological Survey, 1920, Courtesy Library of Congress) .....8

Figure 4: Plat map of Woodland Beach (Plat Book 8, p.8, Plat 424) .....................................................................10

Figure 5: The development of beach communities across the Shady Side area from 1920-1940s (1: Avalon

Shores; 2: Idlewilde & Felicity Cove; 3: Cedarhurst-on-the-Bay; 4: Columbia Beach; 5: Franklin Manor-on-the-

Bay) ........................................................................................................................................................................11

Figure 6: Baltimore Sun advertisement stating 'gentiles only' (June 28,1923: p.22) ..............................................12

Figure 7: Sign posted out front of Beverly Beach Club .........................................................................................12

Figure 8: Public Beach Facility Sites in North County Area (locations of Stony Ridge & Summit Grove

unknown) ................................................................................................................................................................19

Figure 9: Beach Community Sites in the North County Area (see tables below for key) ......................................20

Figure 10: Stage at Floods Park, ca.1914 (The Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Historical Committee 1976) ......................22

Figure 11: Baltimore Sun Advertisement for Fairview Beach and Fort Smallwood (June 24, 1934; p.63) ...........25

Figure 12: Captain George Brown's Steamboats Avalon, and Starlight .................................................................26

Figure 13: Fort Smallwood Concession Stand .......................................................................................................29

Figure 14: Beach Resorts and Communities in the Magothy River Area (see tables below for key) ....................32

Figure 15: Baltimore Afro American newspaper advertisement for Beechwood (Beachwood) Park (July 16, 1949;

p.9) ..........................................................................................................................................................................33

Figure 16: Crystal Beach (Ann Arrundell County Historical Society) ...................................................................34

Figure 17: Rollercoaster at Mago Vista Beach (photo provided by Robert Benson) .............................................35

Figure 18: Beach Resorts and Communities in the Severn River & Lower Broadneck Area (see tables below for

key) .........................................................................................................................................................................40

Figure 19: Baltimore Afro-American newspaper advertisement for Round Bay resort (July 9, 1904; p.5) ...........42

Figure 20: Beach Resorts and Communities in the Annapolis Area (see tables below for key) ............................46

Figure 21: Bay Ridge pavilion (NRHP form AA-950) ..........................................................................................47

Figure 22: Carr’s Beach Dance Pavilion (Smithsonian NMAH) ...........................................................................48

Figure 23: Sparrow's Beach postcard (from Digital Commonwealth) ...................................................................48

Figure 24: Highland Beach Community .................................................................................................................51

Figure 25: Beach Resorts and Communities in the South River Area (see tables below for key; unknown

locations for South River Beach) ............................................................................................................................53

Figure 26: Beach resorts and Communities in the Mayo Peninsula Area (see tables below for key) ....................57

Figure 27: Beverly Beach ca. 1940s .......................................................................................................................58

Figure 28: Postcard depicting resort buildings at Beverly Beach Club ..................................................................59

Figure 29: Triton Beach Postcard (from Digital Commonwealth) .........................................................................59

Figure 30: Beach resorts and communities in the South County Area ...................................................................62

Figure 31: Bay View Inn (left) and the Rural Home Hotel/Andrews Hotel (right), ca.1978 (from MIHP site form

AA-300 and AA-301) .............................................................................................................................................64

Figure 32: Family photograph at Columbia Beach (image provided by Columbia Beach Improvement

Association) ............................................................................................................................................................65

Figure 33: The Fair Haven Hotel ............................................................................................................................67

Figure 34: Rollercoaster at Chesapeake Beach ......................................................................................................68

Figure 35: Rose Haven ca. 1950 (Kilduffs 2016) ...................................................................................................69

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Figure 36: Beverly Triton Beach Park in 2015 .......................................................................................................74

Figure 37: Mayo Beach Public Day August 2016 .................................................................................................... i

Figure 38: Sign Unveiling at Mayo Beach Park April 26, 2017 ............................................................................ iii

Figure 39: Sign Installed at Beverly-Triton Beach Park ........................................................................................ iv

Figure 40: Sign Installed at Mayo Beach Park .........................................................................................................v

Figure 41: Beverly-Triton Heritage Hike Trail Map (Front) .................................................................................. vi

Figure 42: Beverly-Triton Heritage Hike Trail Map (Back) ................................................................................. vii

Figure 43: The Plein Air Paint Event at Beverly Triton Beach Park .................................................................... viii

TABLE OF TABLES

Table 1: List of Historic Public Beach Facilities in Anne Arundel County ...........................................................14

Table 2: Beach Communities in the Curtis & Marley Creek Area .........................................................................22

Table 3: Beach Communities in the Stoney and Rock Creek Area ........................................................................28

Table 4: Remaining Beach Communities from the North County Area.................................................................30

Table 5: Beach Communities in the Magothy River Area .....................................................................................37

Table 6: Beach Communities in the Lower Broadneck Peninsula Area.................................................................41

Table 7: Beach Communities in the Northern Annapolis Neck and Upper Severn River Area .............................44

Table 8: Beach Communities in the Annapolis Area .............................................................................................50

Table 9: Beach Communities in the South River Area ...........................................................................................55

Table 10: Beach Communities in the Rhode River and Mayo Peninsula Area ......................................................60

Table 11: Beach Communities in the Shady Side Area ..........................................................................................66

Table 12: Beach Communities in the Herring Bay and Deale Area .......................................................................70

Table 13: Historic Beach Resort/Community Sites Listed on the National and State Register of Historic

Properties ................................................................................................................................................................72

Table 14: Sites not listed on the NRHP or MIHP but have been recorded by other measures or are today

incorporated into the park system. ..........................................................................................................................73

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PROJECT BACKGROUND

INTRODUCTION

During the early 20th century Anne Arundel County's rural coastline was quickly shifting from an

economy focused on agriculture and maritime industries to recreation/leisure-based tourism as once productive

farm fields and fishing communities were being replaced by beach-side amusement parks, resorts, and summer

communities. This was not a phenomenon unique to the area though; rather, it was a larger trend seen throughout

the eastern United States.

In the years leading up to the shift, the nation was experiencing an industrial revolution as a wide range

of technological advancements improved infrastructure and transportation throughout the country and facilitated

factories and other businesses to increase the quantity and speed of production. Over time, the rapidly growing

economy led to steady wage increases as well as reductions in hours worked for the average laborer. The

industrial revolution did not only affect the nation’s economy, it led to significant changes in American society

and culture, as well. The increasing comfortability and ease of living gave more time to a larger portion of the

population to engage in things other than work. For the first time, leisure was something not only afforded to the

wealthy, but something obtainable to a larger percentage of the population. As traditional lifestyles shifted,

Americans collectively began to reorganize and renegotiate their positions on things like family

dynamics/structure, childcare, social roles, relations between economic classes, gender roles, materialism,

education, and career paths.

In the midst of redefining what it meant to be an American during the early 20th century, people began to

flock to the sea shore to take advantage of their new leisure time. Along Anne Arundel County’s shoreline, a

wide variety of beach-side recreation and leisure opportunities emerged including bathing beach parks,

amusement parks, and colonies of summer cottages (Figure 1). Although racial and religious persecution ran

rampant through the country, it was not only the white majority that participated in beach leisure; minority

populations, including African and Jewish Americans, also fought to have their own shore side enclaves,

attractions, and communities during this time. The increased demand in beach recreation would have outstanding

impacts on Anne Arundel County as its vast undeveloped shoreline became an avenue for immense economic

growth and would ultimately reorient its future course. The changes that played out would not only impact the

County’s economy but also its coastal and cultural landscape.

This amazing manifestation of beach resort-related development along nearly the entirety of the

County’s coastline (see Figure 1) reflects a strong societal response to the nation’s era of modernization but is

poorly understood. Unfortunately, as time goes on, the physical remains of this influential beach resort heyday

continue to be destroyed by the latest phase of the development-frenzy it initiated. Instead of public facilities

though, modern development has focused on more private ‘water-privileged’ communities. Nevertheless, as

these former beach havens are razed to make way for new construction, much of their largely undocumented

history fades further and further from the local landscape and public memory. In order to combat this, Anne

Arundel County set out to gather and document information and oral histories from this bygone era before it is

gone for good. This report will detail the findings from its initiative with the project deemed Learn S’Mores

History: A Heritage Research and Public Outreach Initiative, Focusing on Anne Arundel County’s early 20th

Century Beach Resorts and Communities (Learn S’Mores History project).

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FIGURE 1: HISTORIC BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

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PROJECT OVERVIEW & GOALS

The Learn S’Mores History project was piloted by the Cultural Resources Division (CRD) of Anne

Arundel County’s Office of Planning and Zoning through grant funding provided by the Anne Arundel County

Trust for Preservation, Inc. This project complimented a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority (MHAA) funded

grant project entitled “Before the Bay Bridge: Anne Arundel County’s 20th Century Beach Resorts” (Before the

Bay Bridge project) that intended to create and implement several heritage tourism events highlighting the rich

and diverse history of the County’s historic beach resorts.

Funding for the Learn S’mores History project was specifically provided to conduct research,

documentation, and evaluation of the early 20th century resources in and around historic beach communities and

resorts in Anne Arundel County. This research was used to develop and implement the public history events/

programs funded by the aforementioned Before the Bay Bridge project and to compile a publically-accessible

report that will assist the CRD in future development decisions.

Specific goals of the project included:

- To conduct research to preserve the history of the County’s historic beach resorts;

- To expand public knowledge and appreciation of the significance of the County’s once flourishing 20th

century beach resorts and to promote preservation of the remaining resources;

- To reveal and promote discourse into the variable experiences that people of diverse backgrounds had as

shifting demographics have nearly erased this compelling history from the minds of current residents;

- To encourage the public to contribute to data collection by gathering public memories and memorabilia

pertaining to the historic beach destinations; and

- To contribute to the Before the Bay Bridge project’s public events by providing information for

interpretive signs, and informative brochures, as well as assisting with guided park tours and other

related activities.

PUBLIC OUTREACH EVENTS

In compliance with the grant agreement, project personnel contributed to the Before the Bay Bridge

project interpretive sign and brochure development as well as the public outreach history events which promoted

public awareness and preservation of Anne Arundel County’s 20th century beach resort history. Summaries of

the events are provided in Appendix A of the report.

RESEARCH METHODS

Research for this project incorporated a review of historic documents and cartographic studies.

Considering the scope of this project revolves around early 20th century beach recreation, research was focused

on communities and beach resort sites existing prior to 1950. It should be noted, however, that the following

narrative is likely not a complete list of all the beach ‘resorts’ that existed. The primary contributing factor is

that, to the knowledge of the project personnel, no official records were kept that document the presence of

beach resort or related facilities in Anne Arundel County.

As such, the current research focused on media within which advertisements were likely to have been

posted to attract patronage. This included but was not limited to historical newspapers (e.g. the Baltimore Sun

and Baltimore’s Afro-American newspaper) accessed through the ProQuest online digital library, along with

other available print and online newspapers. Government planning documents, community and local historic

society websites, and other previously published research was also consulted.

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This approach does not guarantee a complete inventory of historic resorts. There are many factors that

may have influenced whether or not a particular resort was identified during research, including the facility’s

desire to- or ability to- invest in advertising campaigns and whether those advertisements were present in the

media reviewed. Depending on how formal a facility was, it may have only been known by word of mouth or

was operated and patronized by minority groups that have been historically underrepresented in mainstream

media. With that being said, an attempt was made to consult minority media resources including Baltimore’s

Afro-American newspaper and by reaching out to local historic societies, independent and academic researchers,

and representatives of minority communities.

Although a wide range of maps were consulted, the primary cartographic study utilized a combination of

initial plat record dates (from mdlandrec.net and plats.net websites) and property construction dates (from the

county’s SDAT GIS data layer) in a GIS mapping database to identify emergent early 20th century beach

communities. Both of these resources were utilized in tandem considering initial subdivision/plat records are not

necessarily representative of when property sales/development started. As the following sections will show,

several of these development endeavors were very slow to start or simply failed all together.

Two early state highway planning survey maps of Anne Arundel County from 1940 and 1950 (see

Appendix B; they will be referred to as the ‘1940s Road Map’ and ‘1950s Road Map’ for the remainder of the

report) were also used to clarify whether the identified hubs of development activity were related to beach

recreation or not. These maps were found during research and happen to chart out the distribution of various

building types, public institutions, and other cultural and environmental features. More importantly, for this

project, the map depicted ‘summer cottages’ and public beach/swimming areas. Acknowledging that such maps

are not always reliable since the cartographer imposes their own inherent biases on the product, attempts were

made to validate the map with the documentary research and vice-versa. While in most instances both resources

confirmed one another, in others they did not. With that being said, if inconsistencies presented themselves or if

insufficient resources were identified, notations were included in the following narrative. In some instances, the

authored used her best judgment to decide whether or not to include questionable/unconfirmed sites in the

narrative.

REPORT STRUCTURE

This report provides a review of the Learn S’Mores History research into Anne Arundel County’s

historic 20th century beach ‘resorts’. The primary initiative of the report is to evaluate and provide a summary of

the historic beach ‘resort’ or related sites identified during research. Considering that nearly the entire coast of

Anne Arundel County was engaged in early 20th century beach leisure economies, there was a lot of similarity

between many of the sites. In order to avoid a lengthy repetitive document detailing each and every site, the

research data will be presented in a narrative form that is far more cohesive and concise.

The first chapter explores the contextual background of the County’s beach resort era. It will begin with

a discussion of the multi-variate beach ‘resort’ iterations that developed in the county and will finish with an

overview of the chronological manifestation of the various beach ‘resort’ types. The next chapter will detail the

sites identified during research. To effectively present the data, sites were grouped together into separate sections

of the chapter (Figure 2). Each section represents a geographical sub-area of the county with concentrations of

generally similar beach ‘resort’ phenomenon. Comprehensive summaries were compiled for each distinct sub-

area and major sites are further detailed separately within. The final chapter provides a series of

recommendations that were formulated based on the data collective whole and will address future planning

considerations as well as directives for supplementary research.

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FIGURE 2: AREAS DISCUSSED IN REPORT

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RESULTS: CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND The following chapter will discuss contextual background information for the county’s historic beach resorts.

Concepts regarding the variety and nature of Anne Arundel County’s beach ‘resorts’ will first be addressed. A

chronological overview of the development of the beach resort phenomenon will then be provided.

TYPES OF BEACH DESTINATIONS

There is a myriad of ways that Anne Arundel County’s shoreline was utilized for recreation and

leisure in the late 19th through the early 20th centuries. Unfortunately, nearly all of the iterations of

beach facilities were referred to, historically, under the blanket term ‘resort’. Although the term masks

vast differences between each site, these beach destinations can generally be separated into residential or

recreation-focused sites; whereas the former incorporates short-term lodging facilities and summer

residential colonies and the latter represents amusement parks and public beach bathing facilities.

However, this distinction is not always clear-cut as residential communities may have allowed non-

residential use of the beach facilities or, alternatively, may have contained amusement amenities that

were available only to residents. On the other hand, some sites that would largely be considered more of

an amusement park or recreational-focused site would also have hotels, boarding houses, or surrounding

residential communities associated with it.

Importantly, it should be noted that the sites that remained open for longer periods of time were

not static in what type of facility was in operation. The classification of any particular site changed over

the years as amenities were added/removed, as ownership transferred, or as goals of the institution

shifted. Although many of the facilities evade clear classification, the following will provide an

overview of some of the more common types of beach-facilities that developed in the County.

Commercial Endeavors:

One of the more common beach facility types was the rental summer beach cottage. In various

instances, anywhere from one to dozens of summer cottages were erected by a property owner solely

with the intent to rent them out on short-term bases. Occasionally, these properties would offer an array

of amenities to draw patrons including picnic areas, playgrounds, sport fields, pavilions etc. Generally,

only renters were allowed to utilize the beaches although that was not always the case considering

policing may or may not have always been available.

Similarly, another tactic was to erect a hotel, inn, or boarding house along a shoreline property.

In some cases, property owners would turn their own homes into boarding spaces. In an attempt to boost

patronage, these property owners would also provide additional attractions like picnic facilities, boats,

fishing charter opportunities, and/or sports equipment.

Alternatively, others would obtain property that was turned into a profitable public facility.

Some of these ventures were large beach-side amusement parks with roller-coasters and other rides

while others were simply bathing beaches or beach recreational areas with less spectacular amusements

such as arcades, dance halls, and/or picnic pavilions. Although public in nature, many of these facilities

were privately owned and had restrictions on who could be admitted into the park, often based on race or

ethnicity.

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Privately Owned Properties:

Aside from these business ventures, individuals and families also began to buy their own plots

for personal vacation homes. In some cases, they would buy subdivided beach-front lots from the

owners of large farms. In other cases, they would acquire them from developers of larger summer

communities. Whereas some summer colonies offered private beach privileges with the purchase of a

plot of land, others offered a true resort-like experience. The resort-like communities offered an array of

beach-related activities including boating, dining halls, community halls where dances, concerts, and

other events would be held, along with bowling alleys and sports facilities that were available only to

residents.

GENERAL HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH RECREATION IN ANNE

ARUNDEL COUNTY

The 19th Century

In the late 19th

century, during an era commonly referred to as “the Gilded Age”, Americans

were beginning to experience increased economic wealth. Simultaneously, industrialization and

advancements in the nation’s infrastructure were also helping to make their lives easier and more

comfortable. Emergent middle-class families in urban areas everywhere (including Baltimore and

Washington) slowly began to take advantage of their new prosperity and started to cash in their

newfound wealth for more leisure time—a luxury once only afforded to the elites.

When Americans were finally able to partake in leisure/recreational activities, they sought such

relaxation away from their hectic lives in the city and found refuge in rural areas that were less crowded

and more ‘peaceful’. Increasingly more and more people visited Anne Arundel’s coast each year, and as

they did, these spaces that were still entrenched in the tobacco and agricultural economies of the past,

rapidly responded to the demand and were creatively transformed into profitable tourist destinations.

Those operating these new leisure spaces were astute to needs of their patrons and offered all sorts of

attractions including anything from beach bathing, picnicking, swimming, boating, crabbing, horse

racing, fishing, live music, dancing, plays, and other amusements.

The earliest beach recreational areas generally developed around existing shipping

ports/landings that local farmers had been using for decades to import/export goods. The Fair Haven

Hotel, for example, was a popular resort that developed out of an old home near a shipping wharf, and

was in operation as early as the 1830’s. The facility’s proprietor was George Weems, who also owned

the Weems Steamboat line which serviced the Fair Haven steamboat landing. The economic potential of

using one’s home as a boarding house caught on in other areas of the county by the late 1800’s including

most notably in Shady Side. In fact, so many resorts opened up here that a reporter claimed that Shady

Side’s sole purpose for existing was for the summer pleasure of Baltimore and Washington (Emery and

Hughes 2004: Sec.8, p.12).

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FIGURE 3: TRANSPORTATION ROUTES CA.1920 (EXCERPT FROM MAP OF MARYLAND SHOWING HIGHWAYS, STEAM AND

ELECTRIC RAILWAYS, AND STEAMBOAT LINES, MARYLAND GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, 1920, COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS)

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There were also a few large beach amusement parks that developed in the late 1800’s. One of

the largest was the Bay Ridge Resort near Annapolis. This location boasted roller coasters and various

other carnival-like amusements. Several other smaller amusement parks and resorts were present at this

time including Round Bay on the Severn and Fairview Beach on Rock Creek.

At this time, transportation to these recreational areas was almost solely dependent on

steamboats since land routes were not well established in the rural portions of Anne Arundel (see Figure

3). With that being the case, the quantity of steamboat companies and wharves increased tremendously

during the turn of the century as owners began to take advantage of increased travel. Many companies

advertised trips to Anne Arundel’s shores as daily ‘excursions’ which were offered more frequently as

time progressed. Although railroad travel was also an option, the only resort that was directly serviced

by such means was Bay Ridge. Eventually, the establishment of the Baltimore Annapolis Short Line

Railroad (ca. 1887) permitted additional access to locations along the north bank of the Severn River.

The 20th Century

By the 20th century an even larger portion of society was able to partake in leisure time and

recreational activities. With increased demand came a rise in supply. Beach-side recreational areas and

resorts diversified and became available in even more portions of the county.

Within the first few decades of the century, many of the burgeoning resorts were simply bathing

beaches with picnic groves and rental bungalows (e.g. Outing Park, Magothy Beach) although various

beach side amusement parks also arose including Colonial Beach, Browns Grove, and Beverly Beach

which offered an array of amusements like kiddie rides, arcades, watersports, and/or slot machines.

County residents also continued to prosper on the seasonal influx of visitors by operating hotels or

boarding spaces from their personal homes during the summer months. A 1917 Baltimore Sun article,

‘Annapolis and Vicinity has Romance and Charm’, states that along the South, West, and Rhode Rivers,

“nearly every family…who has a residence of any size converts it into a summer boarding house during

the months of June, July, and August, and for years they have reaped a harvest”.

With the rise in popularity, however, the sense of rural solitude that initially attracted city

dwellers slowly faded from many of the larger resorts as the number of visitors skyrocketed. Some

realtors, land developers, and savvy farmers took note early on and envisioned the economic potential of

more secluded summer leisure experiences and began to subdivide large land plots along the shoreline

which were rented or sold for the construction of individual summer cottages. Small enclaves of these

cottages appear scattered all over the county within the first few decades. By the 1920s, developers were

thinking much grander and began drafting plans for summer communities that were exponentially

bigger. Some of these, like Woodland Beach (see Figure 4), offered hundreds of lots for sale!

The prosperity and growing demand for summer resorts and colonies incited significant

attention during the early 20th century as a great deal of funding was invested to support these hubs of

economic growth. Whereas the location of these communities once relied on already established

transportation infrastructure, it was during this period when they began to influence and direct the

expansion of transportation infrastructure through the county, particularly in regards to land-based

routes. In South County for instance, many roads were improved and installed to provide access to some

of the more isolated communities (Fairhaven History Project n.d.). Eventually, as land transportation

became more efficient and affordable, steamboat lines gradually closed or went out of business.

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FIGURE 4: PLAT MAP OF WOODLAND BEACH (PLAT BOOK 8, P.8, PLAT 424)

Beach-side developments slowed down in the 1930s as a result of the economic depression that

many Americans were experiencing throughout the country. In many cases, those who had begun

investing in community development towards the end of the 1920s were not able to sell lots at the

expected price and liquidated their assets for minimal costs.

Nevertheless, interest in beach recreation rose again during the New Deal era and, because

supporting infrastructure was already in place this time around, the scale of summer tourism and

development was much more dramatic than the initial boom. A Baltimore Sun article from 1939, for

instance, reported that Anne Arundel County’s resident population of 64,000 quadrupled over the

summer as Baltimoreans and Washingtonians settled into their vacation homes (White 1939). Public

beach facilities also multiplied at this time as the same article additionally notes that Anne Arundel had

at least seventy-five summer resorts between Furnace Creek and Herring Bay (ibid). This total count was

more than any other county in the state and did not even include the private institutions not regulated by

the Health Department!

Sales in beach community lots continued to soar (Figure 5). A 1946 Baltimore Sun article

reported that many of beach communities (including Round Bay, Severna Park, Wardour, Pendennis

Mount, Ferry Farms, Manhattan Beach, Crystal Beach, Edgewater Beach, South River Park, Bay Ridge,

Sherwood Forest) had few if any vacancies. This continued and by the mid-20th century, after

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heating/cooling systems became more accessible and affordable, summer homes began to transition into

year-round residences. The trend towards more of a residential use of Anne Arundel’s shoreline meant

that public access was increasingly diminishing. Privatization of the coastline was an early concern for

county officials as a 1937 planning document reported that “Between Annapolis and Baltimore, out of a

total of 139 miles, there are similarly only four miles of bay shore and 13 miles on estuaries [that exhibit

little to no development or subdivision activity]… that there are still several miles of shore undeveloped

is no reason for delaying acquisition of areas for public use” (Maryland State Planning Commission

1937: 36-37). Despite the initiatives to preserve portions of the coast for public access (which eventually

led to the state’s acquisition of Sandy Point State Park) the allure of having one’s own personal chunk of

beach continued to reduce resort patrons and put stress on park owners.

FIGURE 5: THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEACH COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE SHADY SIDE AREA FROM 1920-1940S (1: AVALON SHORES; 2: IDLEWILDE & FELICITY COVE; 3: CEDARHURST-ON-THE-BAY; 4: COLUMBIA BEACH; 5: FRANKLIN MANOR-ON-THE-BAY)

Several events occurred in the 1950s and 1960s that ultimately led to the closing of many beach

resorts. The first was the opening of the Bay Bridge in 1952 which permitted easier access to Ocean

City, a large and well-established vacation attraction. The handful of resorts that were able to remain in

business after the bridge’s opening were generally those that supplemented the money lost from the

decline in beach patronage with other attractions such as gambling and amusement park rides. By the

1960s however, another event, the outlawing of slot machines in the County, served to strip the former

option away from the resorts. The final blow resulted from repercussions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

which banned public institutions from discriminating based on race, color, religion, sex, or national

origin. In the years that followed, various resorts that refused to integrate were forced to close either by

court order or from public pressure. Interestingly though, even minority owned and operated resorts

were negatively impacted following the ruling since the minorities that they predominately serviced

were now able to patronize generally nicer resort areas that were once off limits. Such resorts like the

African-American owned Beachwood Park experienced such a significant decline in patronage that they

could not remain open.

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Beach Leisure Opportunities for Minorities

Importantly, while many recreational areas were advertised publicly, there were generally

unspoken restrictions on who would actually be allowed entrance. In some instances, resorts would

explicitly state demographic restrictions in advertisements but this was not the norm (see Figure 6).

Generally, signs would be posted outside of the resort’s entrance or an individual at the front would

police patrons (Figure 7).

FIGURE 6: BALTIMORE SUN ADVERTISEMENT STATING 'GENTILES ONLY' (JUNE 28,1923: P.22)

FIGURE 7: SIGN POSTED OUT FRONT OF BEVERLY BEACH CLUB

In Anne Arundel County, the majority of resorts only offered admission to whites although, in

numerous cases, would serve “gentiles” only. In a few instances, more inclusive resorts had periods of

time where they allowed minorities although criticism from white patrons generally overturned such

decisions or detered minorities from entering.

Exclusivity went both ways, though, as the few formal minority resorts identified during this

project also tended to have restrictive clauses allowing only patrons of color and or only those of the

higher class. Nevertheless, formal minority resorts were not abundant in the county and as a result of

limited opportunities and access, alternative and sometimes informal means of beach-side leisure were

sought. The social on-goings section of Baltimore’s Afro-American newspaper, for instance, indicates

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that many families would host parties at their residences or would rent beach cottages for outings.

Additionally, references for larger resort-like sites also emerged for very short periods of time which

likely tells to their informal nature.

Nevertheless, the context of minority beach-side leisure experience in the late 19th- early20th

century was incredibly different from the experiences of the white majority. Because minority beach-use

was not only restricted but at times deliberately deterred, establishment of any sort of long-term

institution was difficult. Those determined to partake in such activities had to be flexible and

opportunistic. As a result of the limited access and their generally opportunistic and informal nature,

sites of minority beach-leisure are underrepresented in the following narrative.

14

TABLE 1: LIST OF HISTORIC PUBLIC BEACH FACILITIES IN ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

Name Type of Facility* Opened Closed Location Owner/operator

Walkers Pavilion Beach park with

amusements ca. 1860 North co. Samuel Walker

Flood’s Park Beach park with

amusements 1890s 1917 North co. John T. Flood

Acton Park Beach park with

amusements 1880s 1910 North co. Samuel G. Acton

Stony Beach Beach park with amusements and

lodging 1880s?

1930s (hotel)

North co. Captain William

Johnson

Stony Ridge Beach park with lodging 1880s? 1896 North co. John Boyd

Locust Grove Beach park 1880s? At least

1916 North co. Captain Robinson

Altoona Beach Beach park with amusements and

lodging ca. 1899

at least 1980s

North co. John Fait, William L.

Hartman, Mickey and Ruth Bell

Outing Park Possible beach park 1910’s North Co.

Viewpoint Hotel & Resort

Beach park and lodging 1910’s 1920s North Co Edward Simons; Mrs.

Geo. Hoffman; William Jefferson(?)

Summit Grove Beach park 1910s North co.

Beauty Beach Beach-side amusement

park (African American) 1914 North co. Robert Goodlow

Fairview Beach Beach park with amusements and

lodging ca.1889 ca. 1930? North co.

George E. Efford and Capt. Octorus Hudson;

James Marsh (hotel)

Cottage Grove Beach (Heintzeman’s)

Beach park with amusements and possible lodging

1930s/ hotel:1912

1960s North co. Charles H.

Heintzeman

Colonial Beach Beach park with amusements and

lodging 1900s North co. Capt. G. Taylor.

Brown’s Grove Beach-side amusement

park (African American) ca. 1912 1938 North co. Capt. George Brown

Sander’s Park Beach park ca. 1930 ca. 1950 North Co. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders

Fort Smallwood Beach park

(interracial/segregated) 1929 Present North co.

Originally: Baltimore City; Today: Anne Arundel County

Catalina Beach Beach park with

amusements 1940s North co.

Maryland Beach Beach park 1940s 1978 North co. Grantlins family

15

Pasadena Beach Beach park 1940s? North co. Robert C. Meyer

Alpine Beach Beach park 1930s 1950s North co. Ralph P. Milburn

Kurtz Pleasure Beach

Beach park with amusements

1933 present North co. Gustav and Samuel

Kurtz

Pinehurst Area Beach park reported on

the 1940s Road Map 1940s? North co.

Lake Shore Beach Beach park ca. 1880s 1920s? Magothy

Beachwood Park Beach-side amusement

park (interracial/ African American)

1940s 1960 Magothy Hiram Smith

Arundel Beach on the Magothy

Possible public access beach park

Magothy Folger McKinsey (?), Charles F. Henderson

Magothy Beach Possible public access

beach park ca. 1900 Magothy

Crystal Beach Beach-side amusement

park 1920s 1950s Magothy James E. Donnelly

Mago Vista Beach Beach-side amusement

park 1928 1964 Magothy

Robert Crisp Benson & Benson Family

Manhattan Beach Area

Area with several beach-side lodging

resorts 1920s Magothy

Sandy Point State Park

Beach park (interracial/segregated)

1952 present Broadneck State of Maryland

Round Bay Beach park with

amusements (interracial)

1880s 1910 Severn Mr. J. Wilson Brown

Severn Bridge Beach Beach park 1930s? Severn Severn Bridge Beach

Club

Herald Harbor Summer colony with public access beach

areas 1924 present Severn

Washington Herald Newspaper

Bay Ridge Resort Beach-side amusement

park with lodging 1879

1903 or 1915?

Annapolis James Vansant

Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beach

Beach-side amusement parks (African

American) 1929 1974 Annapolis

Elizabeth Carr Smith and Mary Florence

Carr Sparrow

Horn Point Beach Beach park ca.1919 ca. 1930s Annapolis M.P. Gonnson

Annapolis Roads Beach Club


1928 Annapolis Rella Armstrong

South River Beach Beach park 1920s? 1930s? South R. 1930 Manager: Joseph

A. Walker

Edgewater Beach Beach park 1920s? South R.

South Haven area Beach park reported on

the 1940s Road Map 1940s? South R.

16

Beverly & Triton Beaches


1925 1968 Mayo Kalb Family

Mayo Beach Club Beach park with

amusements 1939 present Mayo Trabing Family

Shady Side Resorts/ Boarding Houses

Various beach parks with lodging

Late 1800’s Mid-late

20th century South Co Various

Galesville Beach Beach-side amusement

park with lodging (interracial)

ca. 1886 South Co Captain Edward J.

Wheatley

National Masonic Fishing & Country Club

Beach club with lodging 1920s 1980s South Co National Masonic

Lodge #12 of Washington, D.C

Fair Haven Hotel and Resort

Beach park with lodging Mid 1900s 1923 South Co George Weems &

Family

Rose Haven Beach park with amusements and

lodging ca. 1947 1970s South Co Joseph R. Rose

* Definitions: - Beach Park: site offering very passive use (generally beach bathing and picnicking only);

- Beach Park with Lodging: Beach park with hotel, rental cottage, camp grounds, or other short-term lodging

facility features;

- Beach Park with Amusements: Beach park with additional amenities including live music/dancing (frequently),

gaming facilities, other recreational facilities & may offer a few kiddie rides;

- Beach-side Amusement Park: site oriented more towards amusement rides and/or with large scale

entertainment in addition to offering beach-related recreation

17

RESULTS: SITES IDENTIFIED The following will provide a detailed discussion of each sub-area of the County in order to efficiently cover the

dozens of resorts represented along Anne Arundel County’s vast landscape.

NORTH COUNTY/ PATAPSCO RIVER The North County area incorporates Anne Arundel County’s northern Chesapeake Bay coastline and the

Patapsco River tributaries (see Figure 2). The following discussion divided the area into three sub areas

including: the Curtis Creek/Marley Creek area, the Stony Creek and Rock Creek Area, and finally the area from

Fort Smallwood to the northern boundary of Gibson Island.

AREA BACKGROUND

During the 18th and 19

th centuries, Anne Arundel’s North County area was primarily engaged in

agricultural practices or natural resource extraction industries. A major industrial pursuit was the Curtis

Creek Iron Furnace (aka Curtis Creek Iron Works, Curtis Creek Mining Furnace and Manufacturing

Company, Marley Furnace) which exploited the area’s rich iron ore outcrops. In the late 1800s, upon the

construction of railroads through the area, large industrial suburban communities developed bringing

large groups of people into the area (e.g. Glen Burnie). Over time (ca.1918), a portion of northern Anne

Arundel County (mainly around the Curtis Bay Area: South Baltimore/Brooklyn) was annexed to

Baltimore City for industrial/factory building development (e.g. Coast Guard Station, Consolidated Gas

and Electric Company, B&O Railroad, Davidson Chemical Company; see Solley School 1952:6).

Although this displaced beach recreational areas, the increase in job opportunities brought more and

more people to the surrounding area.

OVERVIEW OF BEACH RECREATION IN NORTH COUNTY

The northern boundary of the county experienced a great deal of beach recreational activity

throughout time due largely to its close vicinity to Baltimore. Starting in the late 19th century, shore

property owners took advantage of Baltimorean desires to escape the city life and transformed their

shipping ports into bathing areas/picnic groves with hotels and boarding houses. Activity was

significantly bolstered after 1883 when the Stoney Creek and Rock Creek Steamship Companies were

established to service the area (Pasadena SAP 2004:12; Lake Shore SAP 2004:12).

During the late 19th century, the Stoney Creek area, which was known as a ‘fisherman's

paradise’ (Heiss 1952), held a majority of the earliest resorts. An 1887 Baltimore Sun article records four

public resorts in the area including Stony Beach, Chestnut Grove, Locust Grove, and Stony Ridge

(“Stony Creek Opening” 1887); however, it appears that Chestnut Grove may not have been within Anne

Arundel County. Rock Creek also held the popular Fairview Resort and in the Curtis Creek area was

Acton Park and Flood’s Amusement Park.

By the dawn of the 20th century, The Baltimore Sun reported that there was “about five miles of

continuous pleasure shores around [Baltimore]--nearly a thousand in all” (“Pleasure Seekers A-Plenty”

1909). Stony Creek was called an excursion resort ‘mecca’ for Baltimoreans during the summer months

with its various yacht clubs and picnic beaches, a few hotels, restaurants, and cottages (“Stony Creak

Near” 1918). Rock Creek as well had become “pre-eminently a picnic and excursion shore” with

numerous hotels and boarding houses where many people vacationed—taking advantage of the

18

‘excellent’ beach bathing and fine boating, fishing and crabbing (“Rock Creek Resorts” 1918). In

regards to Curtis Creek, the efforts to build an industrialized hub by the South Baltimore Harbor and

Improvement Company, ultimately razed all of the former summer cottages but led to the establishment

of hundreds of clubhouses that would be used by workers during the summer months (“Boom in Anne

Arundel” 1906).

Major beach destinations that appeared in the early 20th century included Altoona Beach,

Summit Grove, and Beauty Beach (African American) on Stony Creek; Cottage Grove Beach, and

Browns Grove (African American) on Rock Creek; and further east was Fort Smallwood, Kurtz Pleasure

Beach, Pasadena Beach, and Alpine Beach. The 1940s Road Map also indicates that a public beach was

located near Pinehurst although no reference was identified for this location.

In addition to the beach resorts, by the 1920s large sections of this area were being developed

into summer colonies (“Carvel Beach Announced” 1923; “Nearby Shores Developing Anew this

Season” 1923). Initially this development focused in the Rock Creek and Stony Creek area with large

communities like Riviera Beach, Green Haven, and Orchard Beach. Around the 1940s development in

the Marley Creek/Curtis Creek area picked up with the large community developments of Shoreland,

Margate, and Marley Park Beach. In the southern portion of this area development remained slow and

steady throughout the early 20th century.

Although most of the resorts and communities were restricted and advertised to gentiles only

(e.g. Riviera Beach, see Fuggetta 1979), this area also contained numerous African American beach

resorts including Browns Grove and Beauty Beach.

North County beach resorts are displayed in Figure 8 and the beach communities are shown in

Figure 9.

19

FIGURE 8: PUBLIC BEACH FACILITY SITES IN NORTH COUNTY AREA (LOCATIONS OF STONY RIDGE & SUMMIT GROVE UNKNOWN)

20

FIGURE 9: BEACH COMMUNITY SITES IN THE NORTH COUNTY AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR KEY)

CURTIS CREEK/MARLEY CREEK AREA

As discussed above, a large portion of the Curtis Bay area was annexed to Baltimore City around 1918.

Although no longer part of Anne Arundel County, this area was a major hub of beach recreation activity in the

early late 19th and early 20

th century, due largely to its close vicinity to Baltimore City. With that being said, a

few of the major destinations are briefly discussed below.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS The Baltimore Sun reported in 1906 that the northern portions of these creeks were covered with

hundreds of clubhouses erected by private organizations for summer use (“Boom in Anne Arundel”

1906). This area was also well known early on for its excellent fishing opportunities and much of the

coast was advertised as ‘fishing shores’ (e.g. Point Pleasant, see “$1,200 Ground Rent Sold” 1911).

Additionally, several public beach facilities (all of which are in the annexed portions of the county) were

also present including Walker’s Pavilion, Acton Park, and Flood’s Park.

21

WALKER’S PAVILION

Walker’s Pavilion, operated by Samuel Walker, was a picnic and bathing beach park at the

mouth of Curtis Creek in what is now South Baltimore. It was in operation by 1860 and

remained so until at least 1878. The park had swings, eating and dancing saloons, and ‘every

convenience for ladies and children’ (Baltimore Sun Advertisement 1872).

ACTON PARK & WALNUT SPRING HOTEL

Acton Park and the Walnut Spring Hotel, both in Brooklyn, were of the most well-known resorts

in the area. Acton Park, owned by Samuel Acton, was a beach resort and picnic park with

entertainment pavilions, a gambling house, and other amusements (The Brooklyn-Curtis Bay

Historical Committee 1976:30). It was open from the 1880s to ca. 1910 (“Picnics and

Excursions” 1887).

The Walnut Spring Hotel was built in 1841 and served as a hotel, boarding house, and a meeting

place for politicians (The Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Historical Committee 1976:30). It was initially

operated by Mr. McPherson and had a variety of amenities including a raised bandstand above a

circular dance floor and a theater where movies would be shown (ibid: 30, 106).

FLOOD’S AMUSEMENT PARK

John T. Flood was proprietor of Flood’s Park (a.k.a. Jack Flood’s Park) which was open from

the 1890s to 1917. It is located at the south end of what is now known as the Curtis Bay area in

an annexed portion of Anne Arundel County. It had a small hotel, a beer garden, picnic groves, a

theater, and dance hall (Jones 1989). Flood’s Park was well known for its burlesque shows and

its beer garden but was also notorious for barroom brawls, raids, and ignoring the city’s “no

alcohol on Sunday” rule (Jones 1989, The Brooklyn-Curtis Bay Historical Committee

1976:210). As a result of the Prohibition Movement, the park was closed and torn down in 1917

after the area began to witness significant industrial development.

22

FIGURE 10: STAGE AT FLOODS PARK, CA.1914 (THE BROOKLYN-CURTIS BAY HISTORICAL COMMITTEE 1976)

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Following the annexation and boost in industrial development in the area, the resulting increase

in job opportunities led to a great population increase. By the 1920s these new residents began to

establish various summer beach colonies nearby and, after World War II, many of these communities

transitioned into year-round residences (Solley School 1952). A few of the early beach communities in

the area are presented in Table 2.

TABLE 2: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE CURTIS & MARLEY CREEK AREA

No. on

Map Name Date of Plat/ Subdivision

5 Marley Park Beach 1922 (Plat Bk. 2, p.19)

3 Shoreland 1922 (Plat Bk. 2, p.8)

2 Point Pleasant 1925 (Land Records WMB21,

p.77)

4 Margate 1930 (Plat Bk. 7, p.41)

1 Hammarlee 1948 (Plat Bk. 21, p. 8)

23

STONEY CREEK AND ROCK CREEK AREA

The shorelines of Stoney Creek and Rock Creek were similarly very popular summer destinations in the early

20th century. The area’s popularity is however rooted in the late 19

th century when excursion steamboats would

transport folks to the numerous ports for organized events at picnic groves and beach parks.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS Throughout the 19

th and 20

th centuries Stony Creek and Rock Creek were popular summer

excursion destinations with numerous picnic groves, hotels, boarding houses, rental cottage, restaurants,

and clubhouses along the shoreline (“Pleasure for Vacationists at Beautiful Stony Creek” 1919).

ON STONY CREEK

STONY BEACH

Stony Beach, located at the entrance of Stony Creek, was in operation as early as 1887 when it

was called the “Stony Beach Fishing Shore and Summer Resort”; and Captain William Johnson

was the proprietor (“Stony Beach” 1887; “Stoney Beach Hotel Burned” 1915). There was a

Stony Beach Hotel in the area along with a pavilion, and wharf. The hotel was burnt down and

rebuilt at least twice. In 1937, the hotel was used as a night club (“Life Savings Burn Up in

County Blaze” 1937).

STONY RIDGE

References for Stony Ridge as a public excursion and fishing resort appear as early as 1887

when it was operated by John Boyd (“Stony Creek Opening” 1887). The property, which had

picnic groves, a cottage, and a wharf, was put up for sale by 1896 (“Mortgagee’s Sale...” 1896).

LOCUST GROVE

Locust Grove was a public beach park open as early as 1887 when it was operated by Captain

Robinson (“Stony Creek Opening” 1887). A 1916 real estate advertisement indicates that the

public park was still open at that time (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1916).

ALTONA/ALTOONA BEACH

John Fait operated the Altona Summer Resort/Hotel as early as 1899 (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1899). In 1903 the Baltimore Sun contained a public auction advertisement for

the resort which included a substantially built hotel, with an artesian well, parlor and dining

room, swings, carousels, and “other equipment usually found at suburban resorts adjacent to the

water” (Auction Sale 1903). The Faits appear to have kept running the property for a while

longer as indicated by a 1909 Baltimore Sun advertisement that stated the Faits were the

proprietors; although by 1913/1914 John Fait is referred to in a court case as the ex-resort owner

(Baltimore Sun Advertisement 1909; “To Grand Jury Today” 1913). In 1915 the Altona Beach

Hotel was reported as being operated by William L. Hartman (Baltimore Sun Advertisements

1915). In 1920 advertisements for a “new Altona Beach” excursion appeared (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1920).

In the late 20th century, the pubic beach park (under the new spelling: ‘Altoona Beach’) was

operated by Mickey and Ruth Bell. The grounds contained picnic groves, a sliding board, diving

24

platform, game room, and a snack bar (Devera 1981). The resort appears to have stayed in

business through at least the 1980s.

OUTING PARK

In the 1910’s, excursion steamboats were running frequently to Outing Park, in the area now

known as Green Haven (a summer community). While advertisements for the area primarily

promoted the area as a private summer colony, some indications suggest it may have been used

as a beach park.

VIEWPOINT HOTEL/RESORT

Viewpoint Hotel/Resort was in operation, minimally, from the mid-1910s to the 1920s. Various

proprietors were referenced in the Baltimore Sun: Edward Simons in 1914, Mrs. Geo. Hoffman

in 1916, and in 1925 William Jefferson was possibly the proprietor (“Simons Caught After

Chase” 1914; Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1916b; “Plans to Move Dry Agents to Custom

House” 1925).

The hotel had a track record for conducting illegal business. Simons was arrested in 1914 for

illegally registering people at hotel and in 1925 a raid revealed that alcohol was being sold on

the premises.

SUMMIT GROVE (SHORE)

Summit Grove was another popular summer excursion area where folks would plan outings (“In

and About Town” 1916). Heiss (1952) also reported that Summit Grove was a ‘rendezvous for

powerboat enthusiasts’ in the early 20th century. The location of this resort, based on Heiss’

account is somewhere between the old Stony Creek bridge and Altoona Beach.

BEAUTY BEACH*

Beauty Beach, an African American amusement park on Stoney Creek, was opened by Robert

Goodlow around 1914 and had carousels, merry-go-round swings, row boats, steam launch,

photograph gallery, shooting gallery, baseball diamonds, ‘the largest dance pavilion in

Maryland’ (at the time) and a hotel (Beauty Beach Advertisement 1914). Visitation to the park

was made via the Charles H. Werner Steamer ran by Henry T. Tyler.

Notably, the only references identified for Beauty Beach were a few stray advertisements in the

1914 series of Baltimore’s Afro-American newspaper.

ON ROCK CREEK

FAIRVIEW BEACH

‘Fairview Summer Resort’ was advertised as a fishing shore in the Baltimore Sun as early as

1889 (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1889) and was accessed via the Steamer George W.

Johnson. A local historian reported that ‘Fairview Beach’, located at the mouth of Rock Creek,

was founded by George E. Efford and Capt. Octorus Hudson around 1892 (Burgess 1949).

The operation was initially small, beginning with a hotel (built by James Marsh) that offered

accommodations only to smaller family groups (Burgess 1949). By 1919, however, Fairview

25

held several hotels and many boarding houses for visitors seeking to take advantage of the area’s

‘excellent’ opportunities for fishing and crabbing as well as boating and beach bathing (“Rock

Creek” 1919). The resort remained open well into the 20th century (Figure 11) and had various

attractions including a merry-go-round, a bowling alley, and a penny arcade (“2 Buildings

Burned at Fairview Beach” 1931).

FIGURE 11: BALTIMORE SUN ADVERTISEMENT FOR FAIRVIEW BEACH AND FORT SMALLWOOD (JUNE 24, 1934; P.63)

COTTAGE GROVE BEACH

Cottage Grove Beach, also known as Heintzeman’s Cottage Grove Beach, was a public beach

amusement park located near Riviera Beach. It opened around the 1930s and closed in the late

1960s (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1966, 1947).

The original owner, Charles H. Heintzeman, was a Councilman (“Mr.Heintzeman entertains

Club” 1915) and prior to the property’s use as a public beach resort, reportedly rented rooms in

his home at Cottage Grove Farm as early as 1912 (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1912).

The resort boasted beach bathing, large picnic groves, dining/catering facilities, a cocktail

lounge, pavilions, kiddie rides, bath houses, baseball fields, a Ferris wheel, a carousel, a

miniature railroad, slot machines, and pony rides (Riviera Beach School 1956). In 1959, it was

advertised as “Maryland’s finest, most complete amusement park and bathing beach...perfect for

industrial outings, company, club, and church groups”; containing space for up to 5,000 people

(Cottage Grove Advertisement 1959).

COLONIAL BEACH

Colonial Beach, along Rock Creek, was a popular beach excursion area in operation during the

early 1900s (Pasadena SAP 2004: 12). Various Baltimore Sun articles report group outings for

games and amusements (“Germans Begin Session” 1906).

A 1907 Baltimore Sun advertisement for the ‘Colonial Beach Hotel’ advertised it as an ‘ideal

modern hotel’ with fine boating, bathing, fishing, and crabbing. The proprietor at the time was

Capt. G. Taylor.

BROWNS GROVE

Browns Grove was an African American waterfront resort at the end of Colony Road on Rock

Creek (Carr 2012). The park was owned by a prosperous black entrepreneur, Captain George

Brown, who also owned and ran the steamboat line (the Avalon, Starlight, and Newbill; see

26

Figure 12) that serviced the area (Carr 2012). Brown bought the property in 1912 (Peters 1981).

It had concession stands, bathhouse, picnic grove, merry-go-round, roller coaster ride, midway,

dancing pavilion (Carr 2012). In 1938, a fire burned down the entire resort.

FIGURE 12: CAPTAIN GEORGE BROWN'S STEAMBOATS AVALON, AND STARLIGHT

SANDERS PARK

Sanders Park, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Sanders, held rental summer cottages with a bathing

beach, picnic areas, and a tavern/grocery store nearby. It was in operation from at least the later

1930s and into 1950s; although the Jacobsville Elementary School Discovering Our School

Community report from 1952 indicates that the park was at that time 70 years old (which would

mean it was in operation since the 1880s. In 1959, the area was bought for the construction of a

marina (“Marina is planned” 1959).

OTHER LOCATIONS

Unnamed African American resort on Rock Creek: A 1907 Baltimore Sun article (“Three

More Negroes Caught” 1907) reports a ‘negro resort’ on Rock Creek that predates Brown’s

Grove. No other sources for this resort were identified during research.

Unnamed African American resort amusement park on Bodkin Creek: A 1927 Baltimore

Sun article (“Pig Farm Will Become Negro Amusement Park” 1927) reports a ‘Negro

27

Amusement Park’ was being planned on an old piggery farm at Bodkin creek.

Unfortunately, no other sources were identified for this park.

BOARDING HOUSES/HOTELS

Water Oak Point Hotel (Rock Creek) An ad selling private beachfront home lots at Water

Oak Point indicates that the area had a steamboat wharf and a hotel (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1917)

Hotel Anchor Inn (Rock Creek) (Baltimore Sun Advertisement 1934)

Rock Point House on Chesapeake Bay was a boarding house owned by Mrs. O. Tilghman

Davidson (Rock Point House Advertisement 1934)

Archaeological Remains of a Hotel Site (18AN1207): A recent archaeological survey

identified subsurface evidence of a hotel from ca. 1880s.

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES Most of the early beach communities developed around the late 19

th century excursion ports

along Rock and Stoney Creeks. By the 1920s, the trend greatly picked up and over ten new communities

began development. The following table presents some of these early summer colonies:

28

TABLE 3: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE STONEY AND ROCK CREEK AREA

No. on


14 Green Haven

(aka. Outing Park) 1910 (Plat Bk. 12, p.31-32);

(Plat Bk. 15, p.7)

11 Viewpoint Park 1911 (Plat Bk. 13, p.7)

23 Locust Grove 1915 (Plat Bk. 13, p.49)

29 Water Oak Point 1916 (Plat Bk. 14, p.32)

25 Bar Harbor 1920 (Plat Bk.15, p.38)

24 Riviera Beach

(formerly known as Kreb's) 1921-1923 (Plat Bk. 15, p.22)

8 Greenland Beach 1922 (Plat Bk. 2, p.7)

9 Carvel Beach 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.26)

6 Orchard Beach 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.32)

13 Beauty Beach 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.44)

20 Mt. Pleasant Beach 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.41)

28 Rockview Beach 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.40)

15 High Point (at Green Haven) 1925 (Plat Bk. 4, p.42)

19 Brightwaters 1925 (Plat Bk. 4, p.36)

7 Clearwater Beach 1926 (Plat Bk. 2, p.4)

22 Old Glory Beach 1928 (Plat Bk. 5, p.49)

21 Sunset Beach 1929 (Plat Bk. 6, p.50)

27 Rock Hills 1933 (Plat Bk. 9, p.30)

17 Powhatan Beach 1934 (Plat Bk. 9, p.35)

12 Lombardee Beach 1937 (Plat Bk. 10, p.19)

10 Altoona Beach 1939 or 1941 (Plat Bk.17, p.21)

30 Rockwood Beach

(Rockwood Farm) 1947/1955 (Plat Bk. 26, p.15)

26 Cottage Grove 1949 (Plat Bk. 22, p.4)

18 Stone Haven 1949 (Plat Bk. 21, p.50)

16 Silver Sands 1949 (Plat Bk. 21, p.36)

29

FORT SMALLWOOD TO GIBSON ISLAND

The area from Ft. Smallwood to Gibson Island was utilized for beach recreation primarily after 1930, following

the improvement of land transportation routes into the area.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS Most of the public beach facilities in this area appear after 1930, although it is possible that

some of the community beaches were once open to the public. The public facilities identified include

Fort Smallwood Park, Kurtz’s Pleasure Beach, Alpine Beach, Catalina Beach, Maryland Beach, and

Pasadena Beach.

FORT SMALLWOOD PARK

Fort Smallwood Park is a public beach park that opened in 1929 and is still in operation. The

former military installation was acquired by Baltimore City in 1927 for $50,000 with plans to

give the park “a 150-foot pier, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, a children's playground, a

bathhouse complex and 300 picnic tables” (Carr 2012c). Interestingly, although it was a

government owned park, the operators refused to admit African Americans on a regular basis

until the 1950s when a court ordered injunction required the park to desegregate and to provide

bathing facilities for non-whites (Carr 2012c, “10 ask Court to End Bias” 1952).

FIGURE 13: FORT SMALLWOOD CONCESSION STAND

CATALINA BEACH

Catalina Beach, which once was directly adjacent to Fort Smallwood, was a public beach area

that also had rental cottages and beach/picnic areas. It was in operation during the 1940s and

advertised free outdoor dancing, ‘amusement of all kinds’, and crab feasts every day (Baltimore

Sun Advertisements 1941).

MARYLAND BEACH

Maryland Beach, at the mouth of Bodkin Creek, was a public beach and picnic area that was

open from, minimally, the 1940s to 1978 (Fuggetta 1979b; Lake Shore SAP 2004: 12). It was

operated by the Grantlins family (“Oil Spillage is Protested” 1947).

30

PASADENA BEACH

Pasadena Beach was a public beach and recreational area that was in operation by the 1940s

(“Oil Spillage is Protested” 1947). By 1979 it was used largely for boating and only weekend

swimming (Fugetta 1979b).

Leon’s Beach Grove was a resort with beach houses and a bar at Pasadena Beach (“Baker and

Beach Manager” 1967).

ALPINE BEACH

Alpine Beach was a public beach area and picnic grove utilized as early as the 1930s and was in

operation into the 1950s (“All-Day Picnic Planned” 1933, Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1950;

“Oil Spillage is Protested” 1947; Lake Shore SAP 2004: 12). The Sunset Knoll Hotel was also

advertised as being nearby (Sunset Knoll Hotel Advertisement 1949).

KURTZ PLEASURE BEACH

Kurtz Pleasure Beach opened as a public beach destination in 1933 by Gustav and Samuel Kurtz

(Fuggetta 1979b; Carr 2012b). They were first generation Austrian brothers that owned bakery

businesses in Baltimore (Carr 2012b). The resort had 750 picnic tables, pavilions, bathing

beaches, an octagonal dance hall, and nickel slots (Thompson 2013). Although no longer a

public resor, the glass dance hall and other buildings on the property are still rented out today for

private events (Carr 2012b).

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES Plats for summer communities appeared in this area after 1920 but development did not pick up

until after 1930. Most of these communities were relatively small, although several large neighborhoods

also appeared. The following table lists the early 20th century communities:

TABLE 4: REMAINING BEACH COMMUNITIES FROM THE NORTH COUNTY AREA

No. on


32 Paradise Beach 1921 (Plat Bk. 15, p.12-13)

43 Arcadia on the Chesapeake 1922 (Plat Bk. 2, p.17)

42 Pinehurst on the Bay 1922 (Plat Bk. 15, p.2)

39 Forest Glen 1924 (Plat Bk. 4, p.1)

31 Venice on the Bay 1926 (Plat Bk. 1, p.38)

41 Green Gables 1930 (Plat Bk.7, p.39)

38 Bodkin Plains 1934 (Plat Bk. 9, p.46)

33 Bayside Beach 1934 (Plat Bk. 9, p.44;

Plat Bk.10, p.36) 37 Lakeshore Park 1935 (Plat Bk. 9, p.49)

40 Ventnor 1937 (Plat Bk. 10, p.22)

35 Poplar Ridge 1942 (Plat Bk. 17, p.48

36 Belhaven Beach 1944 (Plat Bk. 18, p.38)

34 Bahama View/Beach 1952 (Plat Bk. 23, p.34)

31

MAGOTHY RIVER This area encompasses the entire north bank of the Magothy River and most of the upper south bank to Deep

Creek (see Figure 2).

AREA BACKGROUND

For much of the Magothy River area’s history, the landscape was entrenched in agricultural

pursuits. In the early 20th century, a 1902 Baltimore Sun article reported that although there was no

steamboat regularly servicing the Magothy River that it was “the greatest truck river in Maryland”

(Thomas 1902).

OVERVIEW OF BEACH RECREATION IN AREA

Beach recreation along the Magothy River did not really appear until the 20th century. One of

the few indications of earlier use includes an 1880 Baltimore Sun article that recorded the presence of

‘Lakeshore Beach’ with 4th of July attractions (“The Nation’s Birthday” 1880). By 1908, after the

Annapolis Shortline railroad was made electric, large portions of the Magothy near Jones Station and

Robinson Station were being purchased for summer residence development (“To Build on Magothy”

1908; Maryland Beach: “On Magothy River” 1908). Although the south shore received much more

attention due to the ease of access via the railways, land on the north shore was also being obtained in

hopes that roads and other transportation route would be improved in the future (“Beauty on the Rivers”

1910; “Dividing Magothy Tract” 1910).

During the 1920s, development really picked up as more communities were platted and

established. Beach recreational facilities also started to appear, including Mago Vista Park which

attracted numerous community development plans in its vicinity. Later, in 1930s, Magothy Park Beach

(African American), and Crystal Beach opened and by the 1950s Beachwood Park (interracial) was fully

operational. In some areas like Manhattan Beach ca.1920s, inns were opened to cater to out of town

short-term visitors.

The area’s beach resorts and communities are presented in Figure 14.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS LAKE SHORE BEACH

Lake Shore Beach, also known earlier as Magothy Heights, was established as early as 1880

(Lake Shore SAP 2004: 12). Excursions were often available to the area via the Steamer T.V.

Arrowsmith. The beach advertised bathing, boating, picnicking, and fishing (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1880; “The Nation’s Birthday” 1880) and eventually transitioned into summer

colonies in the late 1920s (Green 1953).

32

FIGURE 14: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE MAGOTHY RIVER AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR KEY)

33

BEACHWOOD (GROVE) PARK

Hiram Smith, the founder of Mount Lebanon Baptist Church in Baltimore, opened Beachwood

Park between 1943 and 1948 and ran it until its closure in 1960. Beachwood Park was promoted

as “Maryland’s finest interracial beach and amusement park” (Gardner 2011). Attractions

included a bathing beach and diving platform, boating and water skiing opportunities, a merry-

go-round, a pavilion, a Ferris wheel, arcade, slot machines and other gambling opportunities, a

family playground, and picnic groves (ibid.; Smith 1949). Many famous artists came to perform

at the dance pavilion including James Brown and Ike and Tina Turner (Powder 2002).

The park was one of the only beach areas where folks of all colors were able to congregate

together, though the majority of patrons on any day were African American (Gardner 2011).

Although, being a primarily African American beach area in a relatively white dominated part of

town, Smith encountered much resistance and negative attention from the surrounding

neighborhoods. Shortly after opening, legal suits were filed against the park by locals who

reported that the sale went against the land covenants that barred non-whites from obtaining

land. The court ultimately ruled in Smith’s favor and he kept the land. Interestingly, Smith’s son

observed that the park did very well up until desegregation simply because African Americans

suddenly had many more beach opportunities (ibid.). By 1963, Hiram Smith had fallen ill and

was unable to keep up on mortgage payments which led to the property into foreclosure (Powder

2002).

FIGURE 15: BALTIMORE AFRO AMERICAN NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FOR BEECHWOOD (BEACHWOOD) PARK (JULY 16, 1949;

P.9)

MAGOTHY BEACH

Magothy Beach, located on the south shore of the Magothy is referenced several times in the

Baltimore Sun during the first decade of the 1900s, prior to the development of the community

(“Personal” 1900). Considering this area was not developed as a summer colony until the 1920s,

it is possible these references are in regards to publicly accessible beaches in the area. This may

be further supported by the Magothy River Association which states there was a bathing beach,

Magothy Beach, “on the south shore of Old Man Creek near its mouth” (MRA n.d.).

34

CRYSTAL BEACH

Crystal Beach, operated by James E. Donnelly, was a bathing beach and amusement resort that

was in operation from the late 1920s to the 1950s (Lutz 2009:32). The beach had a variety of

amusements including bowling, billiards, sport fields (baseball), beach bathing, boating, a

restaurant, music entertainment, a boardwalk, dancing, and a 5,000-patron pavilion (Lutz

2009:32; Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1932, 1933).

FIGURE 16: CRYSTAL BEACH (ANN ARRUNDELL COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY)

MAGO VISTA BEACH

Mago Vista Beach was developed as a beach amusement park by the Benson family in 1928 and

was in operation until 1964 (Lutz 2009:27). The beach park’s amenities included a

ballroom/dance pavilion, an open-air dining hall, a swimming pier, high dives and water slides,

canoes, a ball ground, seesaw swings, the ‘Little Dipper’ roller-coaster which went out over the

river (Figure 17), a carousel, and a miniature kiddie train called the Toonerville Trolley

(Crispino 2013; Lutz 2009).

For much of its history, Mago Vista Beach was a public beach resort, although signs posted on

the entrance broadcasted that access was limited to “Gentiles Only” (Crispino 2013). Over time

the Bensons and their park received increasing amount of public criticism and protests, that they

were forced to turn the park into a private operation and renamed it “Mago Vista Beach Club”

(Crispino 2013).

35

FIGURE 17: ROLLERCOASTER AT MAGO VISTA BEACH (PHOTO PROVIDED BY ROBERT BENSON)

ARUNDEL BEACH ON THE MAGOTHY

The Arundel Beach property, originally owned by Folger McKinsey, was a popular summer

recreational area on the Magothy used for swimming, picnics, and dancing (Lutz 2009: 25). By

1910 it was purchased by Charles F. Henderson of Baltimore. Henderson built a ‘boulevard’ on

the beach from end to end (“On Anne Arundel’s Waters 1912). Soon after, plans were made to

turn the area into a summer colony.

MANHATTAN BEACH

Manhattan Beach was established as early as 1920s. During this time, numerous summer resorts

were established in the area including The Harvest Inn (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1927)

and the Pendleberg Summer Resort at Manhattan Beach which was reported to have a mansion,

pavilion and bathing accommodations (“Real Estate Deals and Building News” 1930). One

instance was also reported of a club organization buying property to build a clubhouse and

member summer cottages for summer recreational purposes (“Doctors Buy Beach Resort”

1920).

OTHER BEACH ATTRACTIONS

Wildwood Beach: In 1915, Baltimore Sun advertisements were put out for Wildwood

Beach on Long Point attracting “permanent home places, shores, and summer outing

camps for the ‘better class’ of people and family use” (Baltimore Sun Advertisements

1915c). The developers (Wildwood Beach Company) planned to build a summer hotel,

amusement park, casino, yacht club, pavilions, and cottages (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1915c). However, this development doesn’t seem to have come to

fruition.

36

Dutch Ship/ Dobbins Island & The Floating Hotel Matilda: This island was advertised

as a popular picnic/bathing area throughout the early 20th century. Although in 1885 the

Baltimore Sun advertised a colored excursion to the ‘Floating Hotel Matilda’ which was

anchored off the island. Amusements included large saloons, skating rink, bathing,

fishing, and crabbing (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1885).

CAMPS

Camp Mil-Bur: Camp Mil-Bur, at the end of Cornfield Creek, was a military style camp

for inner city boys during the 1920s and later, a ‘farm harvest camp’ for women in the

1940s (MRA 2016). It had four large dormitories, a recreation hall, bathing beach,

community dining hall (“Anne Arundel Camp to Open for Women Farm Helpers”

1943).

Camp Whippoorwill: Camp Whippoorwill, on Cockey Creek, was a Girl Scout Camp

that formed in 1928. It is known for having a large totem pole visible from the creek

(Carr 2012d; Bildahl n.d.).

The Grachur Club: The Grachur Club (next to Camp Whippoorwill) was founded in

1912 by Grace United Methodist Church of Baltimore to provide moral training for

teenage boys (Bildahl n.d.; Lutz 2009:26).


Deer Park Farm: Deer Park Farm was a boarding house in the Lake Shore area that was

operated by Mrs. W.E. Sadtler as early as 1911 (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1911).

JOHN S.C. BENDT’S boarding house in the Earleigh Heights area (Baltimore Sun


EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES While several summer colonies were planned early in the 1900s, over a dozen began

development in the 1920s. The following table is a list of some of the early 20th century communities:

37

TABLE 5: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE MAGOTHY RIVER AREA

No. on


19 Cypress Creek 1907 (Plat Bk. 11, p.45-46); (Land Records

GW54, p.255); (Land Record GW59, p.453)

7 Cape Sable 1909 (Plat Bk. 27, p.19; Plat Bk.11, p.32)

5 Boulevard Park 1914 (Plat Bk. 13, p.36)

18 Arundel Beach/ Arundel Beach on

the Magothy

Surveyed 1910/1911; plat map drawn 1915 and

recorded ca. 1917 (Plat Bk. 14, p.40; Plat Bk.12,

p.33) (see: Plat Bk. 16, p.30 from 1963)

24 Ferry Point 1920 (Land Rec.WNW17, p.64)

22 Cresston Park 1920 (Plat Bk. 15, p.35-36)

28 Shore Acres & Derschinger

Property, (aka Cedar Point) 1920 (Plat Bk. 15, p.49; Plat Bk. 10, p. 45)

21 Manhattan Beach 1921 (Plat Bk. 15, p.28-29)

16 Riverdale 1921 (Plat Bk. 15, p.20)

1 Gibson Island 1922-1927 (Plat Bk. 4, p.45-49)

10 Beachwood Forest 1922 (Plat Bk. 2, p.11)

15 Sunset Knoll 1923 (Plat Bk. 3, p.6)

17 Magothy Beach 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.20)

2 Long Point 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.28)

20 Oak Grove 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.23)

8 Chelsea Beach 1925 (Plat Bk. 4, p.31)

9 Indian Village on the Magothy 1926 (Plat Bk. 1, p.43)

3 Sillery Bay Beach 1930 (Plat Bk. 7, p.16)

12 Brookfield on the Magothy 1931 (Plat Bk. 8, p.18)

27 Belvedere Beach 1933 (Plat Bk. 9, p.21)

6 North Shore 1933 (Plat Bk. 9, p.28)

14 Royal Beach 1937 (Plat Bk.10, p.18)

23 Magothy Shores 1938 (Plat Bk. 10, p.38)

26 Broadwater Beach 1939 (unrecorded plat; Broadwater Inc. acquired

property in 1939; see Land Rec JHH 204, p.82)

4 Tree Tops/Sylvan View 1947 (Plat Bk. 20, p.38)

25 Magothy Manor 1948 (Plat Bk. 21, p.8)

11 Country Life Manor 1948 (Plat Bk. 21, p.2)

38

GIBSON ISLAND

Stuart Symington acquired Gibson Island in 1921 to establish a private summer community

where “‘attractive persons of moderate means’ could enjoy summer activities such as golf,

sailing, swimming, and tennis” (Marsh 1998a). Lot ownership was offered through invitation

only and was explicitly withheld from Jewish and African Americans. It was designed by the

famous landscape designers/architects, the Olmstead Brothers, and over time became a

renowned sailing institution that hosted national regattas.

MAGOTHY PARK BEACH

Magothy Park Beach is located near Lake Waterford at the river’s head. It was advertised in

Baltimore’s Afro-American newspaper as being developed for African American summer

cottages in 1933 (Afro-American Advertisements: 1933). Prior to this development, various

references to the area are made in the early 1930s indicating its use for public purposes including

for baptisms and camps (“Man Loses Life in Creek” 1931; Matthews 1930; Garrett 1931).

39

SEVERN RIVER & BROADNECK PENINSULA This area encompasses the Severn River’s entire north bank and most of the south bank (excluding Annapolis) as

well as the lower Broadneck Peninsula. The latter will be discussed separately below, after the overview.

AREA BACKGROUND

This area held the earliest European settlement in Anne Arundel County known as Providence

(ca. 1649). During the 18th and 19

th centuries the area continued to support agricultural industries

including tobacco plantations and, later, truck farming.


The Severn River and lower Broadneck Peninsula areas do not appear to have been significant

summer recreational destinations early on. Only one resort was identified as being operational in the late

19th century and was surprisingly an interracial beach (Round Bay). In the early 20

th century, the only

references for public beach facilities within this area included the Severn Bridge Beach which opened in

1929 (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1929), Herald Harbor (ca. 1920s), and Sandy Point State Park

which opened in the late 1940s. The 1940s Road Map however indicates another public beach in the area

of Carrollton Manor (which may indicate that the community offered public beach use) and the 1950s

Road Map shows a public beach on the north bank at the mouth of Mill Creek. Boarding houses and

hotels were also not frequently advertised for this area in the media reviewed for this project.

With that being said, a 1910 Baltimore Sun article, “Beauty on the Rivers”, documents a decent

amount of large wealthy shore summer properties scattered along the river at the time particularly

around Round Bay. Notably, there were also quite a few youth summer camps established along the

river thought the early 20th century. Of the more well-known institutions were Camp Linstead and Camp

Wawanaissa.

Although public facilities were generally few and far between, beach community development

was abundant along the Severn River particularly after 1910 when transportation was improved

throughout the area. The extent of this development is emphasized in a 1913 Baltimore Sun article that

states “where a decade ago there was nothing but farm land, forest….and comparatively inaccessible

cheap ground, there is now a chain of developments...” (“Cruising up the Severn Estuary” 1913). Some

of the earliest large communities include Sherwood Forest, Epping Forest, and Herald Harbor. While

Arden-on-the-Severn was also planned early, around 1911, it did not witness much development until

the 1950s since it became a hub for mining operations from 1910s - 1920s (AOTS n.d.).

The area’s beach resorts and summer communities are presented in Figure 18.

40

FIGURE 18: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE SEVERN RIVER & LOWER BROADNECK AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR

KEY)

41

LOWER BROADNECK PENINSULA

Beach recreation on the Broadneck Peninsula was limited for a long time until transportation improved in the

area. Communities of summer cottages do not appear until the 1920s and, even then, community growth was

rather slow and didn't really pick up until after the Bay Bridge was built in 1952. The later developments

concentrated near Cape St. Claire and upper Mill Creek, and to a lesser degree along White Hall Creek.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS Public beach facilities were not common for this area of Anne Arundel County. The only beach

attraction identified was Sandy Point State Park.

SANDY POINT STATE PARK

Sandy Point State Park opened in 1952 as a racially segregated beach. It was formerly a landing

for the Chesapeake Bay Ferry System that transported people to Kent Island. By 1955, the park

was ordered by the Supreme Court to integrate its beach facilities.

BOARDING HOUSES/HOTELS The Log Inn was the only popular boarding house and rest stop at the mouth of the Magothy on the

Chesapeake Bay. It was built by William T. Emory and was in operation from 1913 to 1954 (Johnson

2016).

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Beach communities were slow to develop in the area due to limited access. A few of the earliest platted

communities are listed below:

TABLE 6: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE LOWER BROADNECK PENINSULA AREA

No. on


4 Tydings on the Bay (Podickery Point) 1920 (Plat Bk. 15, p.25)

2 Bay Head 1921 (Land Rec. WNW

54, p.312)

6 Pleasant Plains 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.32)

5 Whitehall Beach 1925 (Plat Bk.1, p.2)

8 Hidden Point (Mill Creek) 1946 (Plat Bk.19, p.28)

7 Beechwood on the Burley 1947 (Plat Bk.20, p.1)

3 Beacon Hill 1946 (Plat Bk.19, p.36)

1 Cape St. Claire 1949 (Plat Bk. 21, p.39)

42

NORTHERN ANNAPOLIS NECK AND UPPER SEVERN RIVER

The shoreline of the Severn River during the 20th century did not experience many established beach facilities

for the public but it did house numerous private beach communities, some of which opened their gates to public

recreation for varying periods of time.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS While the Severn River held numerous summer camps along its shoreline, only two public beach

facilities were identified from the late 19th and early 20

th centuries: Round Bay and the Severn Bridge

Beach.

ROUND BAY

Round Bay was a public beach resort established in the late 1880s and continued until 1910

when it was sold for development. It appears to have been an interracial beach resort that was

very popular with the African American community. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper

even called it “The Great Colored Excursion Resort” (Afro-American Advertisements 1904).

The resort had a waterfront hotel, boardwalk, dance pavilion, and bathhouse and was accessed

from a station on a spur line of the B & A Railroad (Severna Park SAP 2002:11). The proprietor

of the resort in 1902 was Mr. J. Wilson Brown who was also the proprietor of the Short Line

Railroad (“Out Only Summer Resort” 1902). Round Bay held annual ‘Athletic Carnivals’

involving foot races, diving contest, and other sport games (Afro-American Advertisements

1902).

In 1904, Jim Crow laws caused segregation of railroad cars. This caused a great deal of

embarrassment and harassment for African Americans attempting to visit the resort and

eventually led to a significant decrease in patronage (“About the City” 1904). By 1906, the

Railroad Company managed to integrate the railcars again (“Excursions to Round Bay” 1906)

but by 1911 the property was bought by developers for the construction of a large summer

colony for whites.

FIGURE 19: BALTIMORE AFRO-AMERICAN NEWSPAPER ADVERTISEMENT FOR ROUND BAY RESORT (JULY 9, 1904; P.5)

43

SEVERN BRIDGE BEACH

The Severn Bridge Beach was located at the north bank of the Severn either at Jonas Green Park

or nearby. This location boasted opportunities for golfing, boating, fishing, dining, and dancing

and also often held carnivals and pageants (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1930).

CAMPS

Gordonia Hobonin Camp (Zionist Youth Camp) was a Jewish youth summer camp near

Jones Station that may have opened its doors to African American youth (“Jewish

Society Hears Dr. Dubois” 1940; “Old Hebrew Rite Given by Children” 1940).

Camp Linstead on the Severn was a Boy Scout summer camp from 1918-1944

Camp Wawanaissa was a summer camp for the Baltimore Camp Fire Girls (Wagner

1938)

Camp Charm was a summer camp that was advertised in 1931 (Baltimore Sun

Advertisement 1931)

HOTELS/ BOARDING HOUSES

Round Bay Hotel offered room and board to African American patrons at Round Bay

(Afro-American Advertisement 1902b)

Round Bay Inn; proprietor was Mrs. W.H. Hanson (Baltimore Sun Advertisement

1911b)

Severn Hotel at Round Bay (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1913b).

OTHER POSSIBLE PUBLIC-ACCESS BEACHES

Whitney’s Landing: A Baltimore Sun article (“Two Men Drown in Swimming; Bodies

Found” 1935) indicates that a public beach was possibly in the location of Whitney’s

Landing around 1935 when after a series of youth drownings, the coroner stressed that

the beach hire trained life guards.

Ulrich’s Shore: A Baltimore Sun article indicates that beach-goers often frequented

Ulrich’s Shore on the Severn River (“Three Drown With Return of Warm Spell” 1931)

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: While most of the summer colonies along the Severn River were advertised as strictly private institutions, a few,

including Herald Harbor, did appear to permit non-residential beach use, at least early on. Moreover, several of

these communities were very large developments that contained elaborate amusements within their boundaries.

Some of the larger community resorts will be discussed below while others are presented in Table 7.

44

TABLE 7: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE NORTHERN ANNAPOLIS NECK AND UPPER SEVERN RIVER AREA

No. on


9 Namana on the Severn

& Ferry Farms

1909 (Plat Bk. 11, p.39); Ferry

Farms addition: 1927 (MSA

C0130-34)

15 Round Bay on the Severn 1911 (Plat Bk. 12, p.19-21)

19 Arden on the Severn

(& Sunrise Beach at --) 1911 (Plat Bk. 12, p. 50;

Plat Bk. 13, p. 3)

23 Sherwood Forest 1913 (Crownsville SAP

2000:14)

20 Whitneys Landing 1919 (Plat Bk.16, p.11)

14 Severn Heights 1921 (Plat Bk.15, p.44)

11 Pines on the Severn 1921 (Plat Bk. 15 p.27)

21 Herald Harbor 1924 (Plat Bk.3, p.33)

12 Briar Cliff on the Severn 1925 (Plat Bk. 4, p.26)

24 Epping Forest 1926 (Plat Bk.1, p.39)

22 Palisades on the Severn 1926 (Plat Bk.1, p.21)

13 Ashby 1926 (Plat Bk.1, p.42)

17 Holly Point 1927 (Land Record: FSR 15,

p.449)

25 Severn Grove 1932 (Plat Bk.8, p.41)

18 Carrollton Manor 1933 (Plat Bk.9, p.23-24)

10 Pendennis Mount 1939 (Plat Bk. 11, p.7)

16 Linstead on the Severn 1944 (Plat Bk.18, p.42)

26 Lindamoor on the Severn 1947 (Plat Bk.2, p.1)

SHERWOOD FOREST

Sherwood Forest was established in 1913 as a community summer resort (Crownsville SAP

2000:14). It is made up of various small neighborhoods with names influenced by the story of

Robin Hood. The community was primarily a summer colony and even by 1989, only about half

of the homes were winterized (Fielding 1989). It was initially conceived of as a Chautauqua-type

summer arts colony (it was going to be called Chautauqua-on-the-Severn) with religious

overtones (Fielding 1989). It was a rather successful endeavor from the beginning—attracting

dozens of families. Over time, amenities incorporated into the community included a golf

course, club house with a casino and dance area, dining halls, silent films, boating, sailing,

swimming, tennis, bowling, lacrosse, baseball, archery, boat slips, post office, and horseback

riding (“Sherwood Forest Along the Severn” 1929; “Sherwood Forest is Particularly Inviting”

1921).

45

There was a hotel in the area, Sherwood Forest Lodge, offering bathing, boating, golf, tennis,

and horseback riding (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1946).

HERALD HARBOR

Herald Harbor was a large residential summer resort (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1924) that

was established in 1924 by several affiliates of the Washington Herald Newspaper. Although

now restricted for residents only, the beaches were once open to the public (see Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1952; Kaltenbach 1985) and were notably more accepting of Jewish families

than other resorts (Lefkowitz n.d.). The resort would host various events at the beach including

boat regattas, boxing matches, and beauty contests (“Herald Harbor to Have Motor Boat

Regatta” 1928, Kaltenbach 1985). Non-resident beach goers likely resided at one of the varying

boarding places like the ‘Severn River Health Resort’ at Herald Harbor which had rooms and

space for tents (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1935). During its heyday, Herald Harbor had a

carousel, slot machines, a clubhouse, and dancing events (Kaltenbach 1985).

ROUND BAY COMMUNITY & THE ROUND BAY WATER CARNIVAL

The Round Bay Community was established in 1911 in the location of the old Round Bay beach

resort. The community often held beach dances with live bands performing at the community

pavilion. The community also hosted the annual Round Bay Water Carnival during which

numerous Severn River communities were invited to compete in a wide range of land and water

sports and other activities. Interestingly, the festivities seemed to have roots in the original

Round Bay ‘Athletic Carnival’ that began in the early 1900s.

46

ANNAPOLIS AREA This area encompasses the lower portions of the Annapolis Neck

AREA BACKGROUND

Annapolis was settled in the 1660s and within 30 years it had become Maryland’s capital. It

served initially as a market center for tobacco and crop farms that dotted the adjacent landscape.


Numerous beach destinations are present in the Annapolis area during the late 19th and early 20

th

centuries. The earliest and largest resort was the Bay Ridge Beach Resort on the outer Annapolis Neck

which opened around 1880. Not long after its opening, after he had been refused entry to Bay Ridge,

Charles Douglass opened the exclusive African American Highland Beach resort nearby. In the decades

that would follow, Highland Beach’s symbol of resistance attracted many more African American

communities and beach resorts in the area.

FIGURE 20: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE ANNAPOLIS AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR KEY)

47

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS BAY RIDGE RESORT

Bay Ridge, known as the ‘Queen Resort of the Chesapeake’ was developed by James Vansant as

a grand Victorian summer resort that opened in 1879 (Bay Ridge Community n.d.). In its

heyday, thousands of visitors flooded the park. Initially, visitors came by steamboat but by 1886,

a direct railroad line was installed to the resort from Annapolis. The 150-acre property held a

large hotel as well as concert pavilions, dining and dancing areas, games, amusement rides,

picnic groves, and a trolley ride.

The resort was continually plagued by financial problems and eventually closed in 1903. The

Bay Ridge Hotel appears to have operated until 1915 when it and much of the old resort was

destroyed by a fire (Marsh 1998b). By the 1920s the Bay Ridge Realty Company had begun

developing the property into a ‘desirable and high class’ summer resort (ibid).

FIGURE 21: BAY RIDGE PAVILION (NRHP FORM AA-950)

CARR’S AND SPARROW’S BEACH

Carr’s and Sparrows Beaches were popular African American beach parks in operation from

about 1929 to 1974. Carr’s Beach was established in 1929 by Elizabeth Carr Smith and a year or

two later her sister, Mary Florence Carr Sparrow, opened Sparrows Beach (Bay Weekly n.d.).

Prior to the establishment of the beach parks, the Carr and Sparrows family ran boarding houses

in the area as early as 1928 (Kahrl 2013:345).

48

After Elizabeth Carr’s death in 1948, William L. Adams (a.k.a ‘Little Willie’), Baltimore’s

infamous black businessman and numbers operator, took control of Carr’s Beach and

transformed the resort into an even more wildly popular and prosperous entertainment and

recreational venue (Figure 22). He added a midway, a large concert pavilion, and the Club

Bengazi nightclub (ibid: 346).

FIGURE 22: CARR’S BEACH DANCE PAVILION (SMITHSONIAN NMAH)

The parks offered an array of activities and events including swimming, dancing, concerts,

picnic groves, a Ferris wheel, ball fields, and annual festivals with dance contests (Williams n.d.,

Sparrows Beach Advertisement 1939; see Figure 23). Notably, Carr’s Beach was incorporated

into the ‘Chitlin’ Circuit’ which brought famous black jazz and soul musicians to perform on the

weekends including Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, James Brown,

Fats Domino, Little Richard, and Aretha Franklin just to name a few!

FIGURE 23: SPARROW'S BEACH POSTCARD (FROM DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH)

49

HORN POINT BEACH

Horn Point Beach was a public beach and picnic grove that was in operation from as early as

1919 to at least the 1930s. It was originally owned by M.P. Gonnson until 1924 when it was sold

to Linwood L. Clark (“Real Estate Deals and Building News” 1924). The 1953 Eastport

Elementary School Discovering Our School Community report indicates that the park had

eroded by that time.

ANNAPOLIS ROADS BEACH CLUB

The Annapolis Roads Beach Club, owned by Rella Armstrong, was built in 1928. The property

was initially intended to be a hotel but by the end of construction the owners chose to market it

as a beach club. The club’s main building was a truly unique multi-tiered structure that stood out

among the area’s waterways. It housed a restaurant, snack bar, and other recreational amenities

(Gibb 2012). The club also boasted a golf course, picnicking and beach bathing facilities. The

landscape and architectural designs were directed by the Olmstead Brothers and Percival

Gallagher.

Club membership was heavily restricted and barred Jewish and African Americans. The

initiation fees and dues were reportedly ‘snobbishly high’ and only those in the highest rungs of

society were allowed admittance while “scores of such low fellows as US senators and

diplomats were turned away” (Washington Daily News June 13, 1946 cited by Gibb 2012).

A private summer community was established around the club early on in order to support

funding for the club. The Great Depression however crumbled the complex’s financial support

and Rella’s company foreclosed. After years of being leased and a change in ownership, the

beach resort’s historic club house saw moments of revival, until 1953 when it was destroyed by

fire (Gibb 2012).

OTHER

Venice Beach Hotel: An African American operated hotel was available at Venice

Beach (Taylor 1952).

Ware’s Hotel: Established in the early 1920s by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ware, Ware’s

Hotel was an African American hotel located at Highland Beach (Nelson, Langston, and

Pinson 2008). After a fire destroyed the building, it was rebuilt in 1931 and stayed in

operation under various different names until it transitioned into a private residence in

the 1980’s.

Bowen Guest House: a boarding house within Highland Beach that opened in 1902. In

1926 it transitioned into the ‘Annozene’s Tea Room’ (Nelson, Langston, and Pinson

2008).

Edgewood Road Boarding Houses: On the road heading to Carr’s and Sparrows Beach,

various other summer boarding locations popped up including Minnie’s Inn and the

Dew Drop Inn (Nelson, Langston, and Pinson 2008:109).

CAMPS

Camp Clarissa Scott: An African American girls Y.W.C.A of Washington D.C. camp in the Bay

Highlands area from 1931-1960s (Nelson, Langston, and Pinson 2008).

50

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Beach cottages begin to appear in the area in the late 19

th century with the establishment of Bay

Ridge Resort. Over time, as more and more recreational beaches appear, other summer colonies also

developed in the vicinity.

TABLE 8: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE ANNAPOLIS AREA

No. on


8 Arundel on the Bay 1890 (Land Record: SH 37,

p.509)

5 Highland Beach 1893 (Land Record: SH43,

p.349)

3 Bay Ridge 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.44)

2 Annapolis Roads 1928 (Plat Bk. 6, p.31)

6 Venice Beach 1929 (Plat Bk. 7, p.13)

4 Bay Highlands 1935 (Plat Bk. 9, p.49)

1 Elktonia Beach 1944 (Kahrl 2013:335)

7 Oyster Harbor 1950 (Plat Bk. 22, p.9)

HIGHLAND BEACH AND SURROUNDING AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES

Highland Beach, a summer colony for wealthy African American individuals and families, was

established in 1893 by Charles Douglass, son of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Prior to his acquisition, the land had been a farm operated since before the Civil War by one of

the few free black land holding families, the Brashears (Nelson, Langston, and Pinson 2008).

Douglass is reported to have gained interest in the property after having to board with the

Brashears following an incident where he had been refused entry at the nearby Bay Ridge Resort

(ibid.). It was envisioned as a haven where blacks could relax and escape the repression of

segregation and its strategic location adjacent to Bay Ridge was a symbol of resistance.

The community was slow to grow initially but between 1910 and 1930 there was a significant

boom. In the midst of the community’s growth, in 1922, the town was incorporated—becoming

the state’s first African American municipality. In the decades that would follow, this significant

and early achievement of Douglass would come to foster the formation of a large African

American summer enclave in the surrounding area.

The governing officials of this prominent town were, however, not immune to their own

inherent social bias. As other African-American communities began to pop up in the

surrounding area, the town started to institute more exclusive covenants on who could utilize the

beach facilities in an attempt to uphold its higher-class ambiance. For several years in the late

1920s tensions ran rampant between Highland Beach and the adjacent Venice Beach (founded in

1919 by Mr. O.T. Taylor) which was also predominately African American. The conflict

received significant media attention and the town was criticized for things like installing a fence

to keep out non-residents (“Where Barbed-Wire Fence Started Miniature War Among

51

Chesapeake Bay Summer Colonists” 1929) and for hiring a white officer to guard the entrance

(“Highland Beach, Md., Remains Private” 1930; also, see Kahrl 2016).

Nevertheless, the dispute eventually seemed to fizzle and various other African American

communities sprung up in the vicinity including Elktonia Beach, Bay Highlands, Oyster Harbor,

and around 1950 lots in the Arundel on the Bay were sold to African Americans (Taylor 1952;

Kahrl 2013). Although some lots from these communities remained under ownership of the

decedents of the early African American property owners, the area’s demographic is today

predominately white.

FIGURE 24: HIGHLAND BEACH COMMUNITY

52

UPPER SOUTH RIVER This area incorporates the South River’s entire north bank and the upper portion of the south bank down to

Edgewater (see Figure 2).

AREA BACKGROUND

This area experienced a great deal of activity during the 17th century due largely to the presence

of London Town, a significant port and tobacco trading center that held the County seat from 1684-

1695. By 1747, the town was undergoing a steady decline after the Maryland General Assembly voted to

remove it from the list of designated tobacco ports and by the end of the Revolutionary War it was

nearly completely abandoned. Nevertheless, throughout the 18th and 19

th centuries the area remained

entrenched in agricultural and maritime pursuits.


Recreational use of the area does not appear until after 1910 when several land owners begin to

advertise their homes as boarding houses during the summer months. Although present, these endeavors

were few and far between. Development continued to be thwarted even into the 1920s as exemplified by

a 1924 Baltimore Sun article which describes the river as an undeveloped haven ‘away from the

madding crowds’ (‘Finds Haven on South River’1924).

The “haven” would not remain so for much longer as developers appear to have descended upon

the area in full force over the next few years and by 1930, the river was known as a popular summer

resort area (“South River Lies within Easy Reach of Baltimore” 1930). Construction of several summer

colonies had initiated and others were in the planning stages. One community, Woodland Beach, was

massive and offered over a thousand lots for sale. Having been started amidst the Great Depression era,

there was a desperate need to sell the lots since they were being offered for the low price of $93 with a

subscription to The Washington Post!

These large-scale developments concentrated along the river’s southern shore since the north

shore did not present ideal circumstances due to its steep topography and limited transportation routes.

The 1940s and 1950s Road Map indicates that a handful of summer cottages were erected along the

inner tributaries of the river, though.

Aside from the beach communities which were likely available to non-residents either prior to

development or periodically afterwards, very few public beach attractions were offered on the South

River. Based on the advertisements in the media reviewed for this project, there were at least two around

Edgewater (Edgewater Beach and South River Beach) although the 1940s Road Map also indicated that

there was a beach facility near South Haven.

Although public beaches were few and far between (see Figure 25), there are numerous camp

establishments on the South River in the early 20th century. These included Camp Conoy, Camp

Woodlands, Camp Pawtinika, and the St Vincent de Paul camp.

53

FIGURE 25: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH RIVER AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR KEY; UNKNOWN LOCATIONS

FOR SOUTH RIVER BEACH)

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS SOUTH RIVER BEACH

South River Beach, along Marlboro Blvd. in Edgewater, was a public beach and picnic area in

operation by the late 1920s and appears to have stayed open into the late 1930s (“Bay Resorts

are Ready” 1937). The facility advertised picnic groves, a dining room, crabbing, fishing, row

boats, and beach bathing (South River Beach advertisement 1930).

EDGEWATER BEACH

Edgewater Beach was a camp or public beach facility during the 1920s. A Baltimore Sun article

indicates that the facility offered camping/picnic groves, horseshoes, beach bathing, and boating

(“Hopkins Gridmen Enjoy New Camp” 1924).

SOUTH HAVEN

The area around South Haven was identified on the 1940s Road Map as being a public

swimming facility although no supporting evidence was recovered from the other media

reviewed for this project. The initial plans made in 1927 for the South Haven community itself

indicated that it was meant to be a country club and private residential community although the

54

project was canceled during the Great Depression (Henry 1976). Before the operation was

closed down however, the developers were able to add a tennis court, docks, and bathing beach

facilities to the area which may have been used by the public later on.

BOARDING HOUSES/ HOTELS

The White House Hotel (White House Farm) at River View (“Two Girls Drowned”

1912; Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1920b)

South River Hotel; Proprietor: C.W. Gould (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1913)

South River Inn; Proprietor: H.M. Love. (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1925)

Casa Del Rio Inn at Edgewater (Casa Del Rio Inn Advertisement 1929).

Riverside Boarding House: a boarding house near Arundel on the Bay advertised in the

Baltimore Afro American newspaper in 1924; Proprietor: Mrs. Petty B. Gross

CAMPS

Camp Pawatinika & St. Vincent de Paul Camp: This site was initially the location of

Camp Pawatinika, a YWCA summer camp for girls but was transferred in 1949 to the

Catholic Charity Fund Inc. which established the St. Vincent de Paul Camp as a summer

camp for poor black children of Baltimore (“Catholic Unit Buys Camp for Poor

Children” 1949; “Y. W. C. A. Camp Is Vacation Haven For Girls” 1928; “Catholic Unit

Buys Camp for Poor Children” 1949).

Camp Conoy: Boys YMCA Camp (early 1900s to 1931)

Camp Woodlands: Girl Scouts of American Camp

Wild Rose Shores Summer Camp/School: Youth summer camp (Baltimore Sun


Camp Keewadin: youth camp (“Boy Scout News” 1919)

55

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Most of the early 20

th century summer communities were platted in the 1920s. The following is

a table of the area’s primary residential summer communities.

TABLE 9: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH RIVER AREA

No. on


5 Edgewater 1911 (Plat Bk. 12, p.40)

6 Edgewater Beach/ Sunny Section 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.39) 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.46)

3 South River Park 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.31);

(Land Records FSR 75, p.58)

2 Oak Bluff 1925 (Plat Bk.1, p.1)

4 Pine Whiff Beach 1926 (Plat Bk.1, p.27)

7 South River Heights 1926 (Plat Bk.1, p.31).

11 Southaven Country Club and Resort/ South Haven 1927 (Plat Bk.5, p.32)

1936 (Plat Bk.10, p.14)

13 Wild Rose Shores 1928 (Plat Bk.5, p.47)

8 Sylvan Shores 1930 (Plat Bk.7, p.28-29)

1 Woodland Beach/ Londontown 1931 (Plat Bk.8, p.8)

10 Glen Isle 1933 (Plat Bk.9, p.31)

9 Southdown Shores 1940 (Plat Bk.17, p.17)

12 Cape St. John 1948 (Plat Bk.21, p.15)

56

RHODE RIVER AND MAYO PENINSULA This area encompasses the Mayo peninsula and the Rhode River area (see Figure 2).

AREA BACKGROUND

In the 19th and early 20

th centuries, the Mayo Peninsula contained several communities of

watermen/oystermen and sailors and supported a prosperous agricultural and truck farming/canning

industry (Edgewater/Mayo SAP 2002:6).


The earliest use of the area for summer recreation is indicated by various hotels and boarding

houses that were present in the area by the early 1900s. Over time, with the rising demand for shore

property, local watermen and farmers began to sell their waterfront lots and by the 1920s, large portions

of the Mayo peninsula shoreline were carved up and platted into dozens of summer communities.

Beverly Beach and Selby-on-the-Bay were among the largest planned communities. Although some

communities were profitable early on, lot sales for most communities appear to have been rather slow

until after the 1950s. In order to combat minimal sales, realtors crafted various advertising schemes like

the ‘Lunch and Lecture’ seminars that were held at Selby-on-the-Bay (“History of Selby on the Bay”

n.d.). This method was used to lure prospective buyers to the property with the hopes that a pleasant

experience and the beautiful view of the bay would seduce them to finalize the deal.

Several well-known recreational beaches also developed within the Mayo Peninsula during the

early 20th century. The first was the Beverly Beach Club which opened in the 1920s. Over time, the

owner of this very successful endeavor acquired several adjacent coastal properties to form what would

become the Beverly-Triton Beach Club. In the 1940s, Mayo Beach Park opened up nearby as a family-

oriented beach bathing facility.

Most of the community developments and probably all of the beach clubs in the area barred

African Americans from patronizing or owning lots; and in the case of Beverly Beach, only gentiles

were allowed admittance. While in other portions of the county various alternative opportunities were

developed by local African American residents, no evidence of African American beach recreation was

identified for this area.

The area’s beach resorts and communities are presented in Figure 26.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS MAYO BEACH CLUB

Mayo Beach Club was purchased in 1939 by the Trabing family. It was advertised as a family

beach resort for swimming, fishing/crabbing, slot machine gambling, and picnicking and also

had concession stands, arcade, playground, dancing, and a pier (Baltimore Sun Advertisement

1967; “History of Selby on the Bay” n.d.).

57

FIGURE 26: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE MAYO PENINSULA AREA (SEE TABLES BELOW FOR KEY)

BEVERLY & TRITON BEACHES

Beverly Beach was acquired by Raymond and Edgar Kalb and their sister Ester Hancock (as

Beverly Beach Development Co.) in 1925 and was turned into a private beach resort with a

substantial summer residential community. The residential area was quite successful and saw

steady development after its establishment. Beverly Beach contained a variety of amusements

including big band music at the bandstand, concession stands, beach swimming, bath-houses,

arcades and amusement rides, and, perhaps the most significant draw, the gambling house which

contained over 100 slot machines by 1943 (John E. Harms, Jr. & Associates Inc. 2000:25).

In 1941 Kalb gained ownership of what would become Triton Beach on a property just north of

Beverly Beach (Land Records: JHH 244 F. 406). This lot was formerly known as Ford’s Beach

or Ford’s Camp and was used for farming and passive recreation, picnicking, and beach bathing

(Cox 2007: 154; John E. Harms, Jr. & Associates Inc. 2000:25). This beach remained a separate

entity from Beverly Beach until 1956 when Kalb was able to acquire the property in between the

58

two (Land Records: GTC 1019 F.214). It wasn’t until the acquisition of all three properties that

the whole area became known as Beverly-Triton Beach.

From the beginning, the residential community and beach club were both explicitly advertised to

gentiles only (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1936). Although extreme, such exclusivity was the

norm at the time throughout the Mayo Peninsula and for many parts of the county, as well. By

the Civil Rights era, however, these questionable business operations were thrown into the

spotlight of social criticism. After an incident where Kalb refused park entry for a Chinese

family, a 1959 Baltimore Sun article criticized Kalb’s defense when he said “we are not anti-

Negro; we are not anti-Chinese; we are not anti-Filipino; we are not anti-anything...But we

reserve the right to limit our patronage to those we wish to associate with...” (Miller 1959).

For a long time, Kalb was able to circumvent legal accusations of prejudice largely because he

operated the properties as a private club. Even after the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he continued to

ban minorities for several years under this justification. By 1968, however, a lawsuit taken out

against the park resulted in a court order to desegregate or to close business for good.

Considering the park’s financial situation had been dwindling for years ever since the county

banned slot-machine gambling in the early 1960s, Kalb ultimately decided not to desegregate

and the park closed in 1968 (Struck 1979).

FIGURE 27: BEVERLY BEACH CA. 1940S

59

FIGURE 28: POSTCARD DEPICTING RESORT BUILDINGS AT BEVERLY BEACH CLUB

FIGURE 29: TRITON BEACH POSTCARD (FROM DIGITAL COMMONWEALTH)

60

OTHER BEACH AREAS

Numerous other beach areas were likely used early on by travelers. The Selby Bay community

website indicates that “the area now known as Selby Beach, was the most popular swimming

and picnicking spot around the area in 1920, and was called "The Cedars" because of all of the

beautiful cedar trees that scattered the waterfront- it later would be called "Cedar Grove"”

(“History of Selby on the Bay” n.d.).

CAMPS

Camp Letts: Camp Letts is a YMCA camp established in 1920 on land donated by John

Letts (“History of Selby on the Bay” n.d).

Camp Wabana: Camp Wabana was started in 1942 by the Maryland Avenue Baptist

Church as a camping ministry. It is an interdenominational Christian boys and girls

summer camp that continues today. (“History of Selby on the Bay” n.d)


Edimenlo: Hotel advertised in the Baltimore Sun (Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1903)

Cloverlea Beach Boarding: Proprietor was Mrs. T.E. Collinson. (Baltimore Sun


Unnamed Hotel near Carr’s Wharf (“History of Selby on the Bay” n.d.; “General

Historical Facts” n.d.).

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Following the establishment of the beach parks on the peninsula, various large-scale summer

communities developed in and around the area. The following table lists these early communities:

TABLE 10: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE RHODE RIVER AND MAYO PENINSULA AREA

No. on


1 Beverley-Triton Beach 1924/1941 (Plat Bk. 6, p.10)

3 Cloverlea 1926/1929 (Plat Bk. 7, p.5)

9 Selby on the Bay 1927/1930 (Plat Bk. 5, p.12)

11 Glebe Heights 1932 (Plat Bk. 8, p.43)

6 Holly Hill Harbor Original plat in 1932 as part of

Selby on the Bay (Plat Book 9, p.6)

4 Shoreham Beach 1937 (Plat Bk. 10, p.20)

8 Turkey Point 1941/1942 (Plat Bk. 17, p.47)

7 River Club Estates 1941 (Plat Bk. 17, p.35)

10 Loch Haven Beach 1946 (Plat Bk. 19, p.19)

2 Saunders Point 1949 (Plat Bk. 21, p.42)

5 Ponder Cove Beach Club 1951 (Plat Bk. 22, p.11)

61

SOUTH COUNTY South County encompasses two areas: in the northern portion is the Shady Side Peninsula and West River area,

and to the south is the Deale and Herring Bay area (see Figure 2).

AREA BACKGROUND

South County was largely an agricultural area for much of its early history. During the late 19th

and early 20th centuries, the coastal portions of South County became hubs for maritime industry. The

rich oyster beds and plentiful bay resources attracted large communities of watermen and oystermen.

Many of the creeks were major centers for boat yards, oyster houses, and other maritime-based

companies.


Steamboat wharves like those at Chalk Point, Shady Side, and Fairhaven were established

throughout the 19th century and used for importing and exporting goods. By the dawn of the 20

th century,

however, these wharves also became a major source of transportation for urban folks seeking country

retreat away from the bustling city life. Starting around 1880, property owners around these ports

quickly caught onto the economic potential of the burgeoning leisure industry and transitioned pieces of

their land into profitable beach destinations. One of the pioneers of this trend was George Weems, owner

of the Weems Steamboat Line, who operated a very popular hotel at the Fair Haven Wharf which he also

serviced (Deale/Shady Side SAP 2001:17).

Essentially the entire Shady Side peninsula as well had become one of the most well-known

summer resort areas in Anne Arundel by the late 19th century (Special Correspondence 1926, Weaver

1986). It consistently held such a large concentration of summer boarding houses throughout the years

(see list below) that a local historian, Folger McKinsey, commented that the sole ‘purpose’ of Shady

Side was "to furnish Baltimore, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Virginia tourists with a place to fish and

swim and keep cool and have fun" (as cited in Emery and Hughes 2004: sec.8 p.12).

For a short time, it appears that Galesville was also a popular resort area around 1886.

Surprisingly, both northern Shady Side and Galesville provided quite a number of beach-side leisure and

recreational opportunities for both whites and African Americans (see Widdifield 2013 for Shady Side).

Moreover, Shady Side also was the home of the National Masonic Fishing and Country Club which

opened in the 1920s by middle-class Jewish Washingtonians. While diversity is clearly evidenced in

northern Shady Side, it appears to be absent in the southern-most portions of the area in Deale and

around Herring Bay where very little evidence for African American recreation was uncovered.

Nevertheless, northern Shady Side stands in striking contrast to the other areas of Anne Arundel County

making this early hub of diversity unique and significant.

In the early 20th century another wave of beach-related development made its way into the area

after the establishment of the Chesapeake Beach and North Beach Resorts just south of the county line

in Calvert County. Within a few years, small colonies of beach cottages began to appear nearby and

served as residential areas for resort patrons and vacationers. By the 1920s, the colonies spread further

north into Anne Arundel County leading to the establishment of North Beach Park and Holland Point.

Elsewhere in South County at this time the expansion of interior land routes further north had initiated

the development of planned vacation communities including Franklin Manor-on-the-Bay and

Cedarhurst-on-the-Bay.

62

Shady Side continued to be a popular summer resort into the 20th century as evidenced by the

observation that “by the end of steamboat excursions in the 1930s, [the Emma Giles] was making five

trips per week to Shady Side” whereas in the earlier days it only made two (Deale/Shady Side SAP

2001:18). However, within ten years the 1940s Road Map indicates that of the various earlier beach

facilities, Idlewilde was the only remaining public beach in the area.

South County residents early on responded to the increase in recreation in various ways. Some

built, repaired, and rented boats; others established restaurants and stores; and later on, (1950s/60s)

developed charter fishing companies (NMFS N.D. a). By the 1960s/70s the decline in maritime

industries led to the transition of summer communities to full-time residences (NMFS N.D. a).

The area’s beach resorts and summer communities are presented in Figure 30.

FIGURE 30: BEACH RESORTS AND COMMUNITIES IN THE SOUTH COUNTY AREA

63

SHADY SIDE/WEST RIVER

Shady Side was a very popular summer excursion destination that exhibited a diverse range of boarding houses

and hotels ran by whites and African Americans. Over time, however, these resorts slowly gave way to summer

colony development when land transportation routes expanded into the area.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS EARLY BOARDING HOUSES/ HOTELS:

Dozens of hotels and boarding houses were advertised in the Baltimore Sun newspaper in the

first decade of the 20th century. Some of the more frequent advertisements (up to ca. 1920) are

listed below (Note: name of location is followed by proprietor if named and years within which

they were advertised in the aforementioned newspapers):

In Shady Side:

Rural Home Hotel/ Andrews Hotel (gentiles only) (Figure 31): Mr. and Mrs.

Robert F. Nowell owned it from ca.1880’s until 1932 when Mr. and Mrs.

Andrews bought it (Shady Side School 1953). It was destroyed by fire in 1986

(Carroll 1978).

Shady Side Resort (1890)

Red Top Boarding: Unknown (1890, 1896)- W.T. Weems (1897, 1899, 1902)

St. Clair’s On the Bay Unknown (1895 - 1897)

Riverside Cottage on West River E.L. Hartge (1896, 1897, 1902, 1903); Mrs.

George L. Rogers (1911); (E.L Hartge also has unnamed boarding house in an

1890 advertisement)

Seashore Home: Mrs. Caroline Wilkison (1897)

New Home: Unknown (1897); Wm. Wilde (1902)

Oriole Boarding House W.E. Avery (1902)

Floral Home Mrs. W. Wood (1902)

Grand View (1902) B. Allan Owings Jr. (1902); Mrs. William H. Niemeyer

(1919)

Riverdale Fritz Witt (1902)

Idlewilde on the Bay Unknown (1907); Mrs. A.E. Nowell; (1915, 1919, 1923)

Bay View Inn (1920s) in Cedarhurst -on-the-bay (Figure 31)

In Galesville/ Galloway/ Cumberstone Area:

Galesville Beach Thomas R. Skinner (1902)

Herman House at Galesville Beach- Mrs. Fannie Owings (1890, 1896)

Arlington Unknown (1890)

Riverview Chas. A. Hartge (1896, 1902, 1903, 1907); John F. Hazard (1897)

Mapleton (1902)- C.E. Leatherbury (1903, 1907)

The Galloway House W.M.Smith (1902)

Hazelwood Mrs. J.F. Hazard (1919)

People Choice on West River Boarding Mrs. J.F.Popham (1902)

West River Cottage Geo. H. Placide (1919)

64

FIGURE 31: BAY VIEW INN (LEFT) AND THE RURAL HOME HOTEL/ANDREWS HOTEL (RIGHT), CA.1978 (FROM MIHP SITE FORM

AA-300 AND AA-301)

AFRICAN AMERICAN RESORTS

Differing from other locations in the project area, Shady Side appears to have had a significant

number of African American owned and patronized boarding houses and hotels in the early 20th

century. Baltimore’s Afro-American newspaper advertised the following locations: (Note: name

of location is followed by proprietor if named and years within which they were advertised in

the aforementioned newspapers).

The Shady Rest Boarding House: (Widdifield 2013: Chapter 5).

Chesapeake View Hotel -Mrs. M. Matthews and Mrs. H.A. Dennis (1902-1903)

Shady Side View Boarding House ran by Mrs. Carrie Prann (1908, 1911)

The Dennis House ran by Mrs. Joshua M. Dennis (1911, 1914- 1916),

Prann’s Grove Unknown (1927)

Malvan’s Beach Unknown (1949)

Paradise Manor Unknown (1949)

GALESVILLE BEACH

As early as 1886, Galesville Beach was advertised as an interracial summer amusement resort.

One article in Baltimore’s Afro American newspaper (“Galesville Was a Leading Pleasure Park”

1925) states that the park was owned by Captain Edward J. Wheatley and that it had flying

horses, swings, dining room, along with a slew of boarding houses with picnic areas, bathing

areas, and other amenities (Scarborough 1952; Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1891).

NATIONAL MASONIC FISHING AND COUNTRY CLUB

In the 1920s, after being denied access to various other beach resorts because of their religious

affiliation, a group of Jewish Masons from Washington, DC purchased this property so that they

could enjoy the recreational activities offered by the Chesapeake Bay. The club members

expended the extant structure providing space for a meeting room, a kitchen, dormitories, and

several bedrooms. The descendants of this group retained the property until the late 1980s when

65

the founders of the Shady Side Rural Heritage Society purchased it to create the Captain Avery

Museum (Emery and Hughes 2004).

CAMPS

Camp Bay Breeze (later, ca. 1948, known as Camp Grace McCard): an African

American YWCA Girls camp (Afro-American Advertisements 1933b).

Kamp Kahlert: early 1900s Ladies camp for the Washington DC YMCA

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: As land transportation to Shady Side improved over time, more and smaller developments began

to appear along the shoreline (see Table 11).

COLUMBIA BEACH

Columbia Beach is a private summer community called the ‘gem of the Chesapeake’ that was

established in 1940 by professional African Americans from DC and Baltimore who wanted to

seclusion from the rampant racial tensions plaguing their urban residential neighborhoods

(CBCIA 2015). Many of the community’s streets were named after prominent African

Americans including Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Booker T. Washington, and Jackie

Robinson. The community was popular from its initial establishment. By 1941, a total of 22

homes had either been built or were being built in the community and in 2003, there were

approximately 170 standing single family homes (ibid.). The community boasts various

amenities including a community boat ramp, fishing pier, picnic area, large beach areas, a

basketball/tennis court, and a playground.

Soon after its development, the community formed the Columbia Beach Boat Club which hosted

annual regattas. These annual events turned into a large festival where parades, award

ceremonies, and the Miss Columbia Beach Pageant were conducted (Columbia Beach

Community 1990; see Figure 32).

FIGURE 32: FAMILY PHOTOGRAPH AT COLUMBIA BEACH (IMAGE PROVIDED BY COLUMBIA BEACH IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION)

66

TABLE 11: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE SHADY SIDE AREA

No. on


7 Felicity Cove 1919 (Land Record Section 3,

p.229; Plat Bk. 4, p.21)

6 Idlewilde 1920 (Plat Bk.5, p.38)

9 Cedarhurst on the Bay &

The Bay View Inn (AA-300) 1921/1922 (Plat Bk. 15, p.11)

5 West Shady Side 1924 (Plat Bk. 3, p.37)

3 Back Bay Beach 1929 (Plat Bk. 7, p.4)

4 Avalon Shores 1932 (Plat Bk.8, p.36)

8 Snug Harbor 1936 (Plat Bk.10, p.8)

2 Chalk Point 1939 (Land Record: FSR 73,

p.351; Plat Bk. 10, p.42)

10 Columbia Beach 1940/1941 (Plat Bk.11, p.18)

1 Shady Oaks 1947 (Plat Bk.20, p.14)

HERRING BAY AND DEALE

The southernmost portion of Anne Arundel County witnessed some very early beach-focused activity, namely at

Fair Haven, although over time, as roads were built and improved, small clusters of summer cottages turned into

larger beach colonies. Most of these colonies focused around earlier wharves and beach attractions.

BEACH AMUSEMENTS/PARKS The major beach amusement in the southernmost end of the county was the Fair Haven

Hotel/Resort. Just south of the county line in Calvert County was the very popular Chesapeake Beach

and North Beach resorts. By the mid-20th century, Rose Haven Resort appeared and was another major

attraction in the area.

FAIR HAVEN HOTEL AND SUMMER RESORT

The Fair Haven Hotel (Figure 33) was opened by George Weems in 1839 although the

Advocates of Herring Bay (2012) report that he also utilized his home as a sort of tavern for

travelers after he acquired the property in 1828. Weems owned a steamboat line and seemed to

recognize the desire for patrons to visit rural areas as getaways from urban life and began to

open hotels/boarding houses at several of his ports/landings. The Fair Haven Hotel was the most

popular and advertised room for 50 persons, beach bathing, oysters, soft crab, and fish dinners, a

great plaza for strolling and bay watching, a dance pavilion/ballroom, swings, fishing/ rowing

(Baltimore Sun Advertisements 1842, 1889b; “Local Matters” 1871). Arrival to the hotel was

made solely by Weems’ steamboat which left from Baltimore. The boat ride took about 3.5hour

(“Local Matters” 1871). In 1870 cost of board was $2.50/day or $14/week (Baltimore Sun


67

The Fair Haven Hotel closed in 1923 around the time that the Fairhaven wharf went out of

commission (Iconic Places n.d.). Today, the hotel is no longer there. The subsequent owner

(Irvin Owings) tore down the building and built a large brick residence which was completed by

1933 (Iconic Places n.d.).

FIGURE 33: THE FAIR HAVEN HOTEL

CHESAPEAKE BEACH RESORT

On June 9th, 1900, just over the Anne Arundel County line in Calvert County, the Chesapeake

Beach Resort town was opened by the Chesapeake Beach Railroad Company. It was advertised

as being ‘the Atlantic City of Maryland’, the ‘New American Monte Carlo’, and the ‘Southern

Saratoga’ (“Chesapeake Beach Today” 1900; “Big Game is Delayed” 1900).

Visitors arrived to the resort via steamboat (from Baltimore) or by a direct railroad line (from

Washington DC). Interestingly, the company built the railroad first (beginning in 1897) knowing

that they would develop the resort (“Big Game is Delayed” 1900; Rasmussen 1975).

The resort cost over a million dollars to build and had an array of attractions including a mile-

long boardwalk and steamboat pier, beach bathing, amusement rides, ‘German village’ (beer

garden), dancing pavilions, bandstands, restaurant and concession stands, picnic groves, and a

scenic roller coaster built partly over the water (Rasmussen 1975, “Chesapeake Beach Today”

1900; “Big Game is Delayed” 1900; Figure 34). In order to promote year-round patronage, the

resort also built a clubhouse, casino, and racehorse track expected to keep ‘good-spenders’ and

‘high-rollers’ coming in the winter off-season (“Big Game is Delayed” 1900).

Unfortunately, the venture was “a broken dream and financial disaster from the very beginning”;

two years after opening it began to plummet into bankruptcy partly due to numerous fatal

railroad crashes (Rasmussen 1975). It continued to run and in the 1920s, new management

renamed the place Seaside Park and built a new ballroom, salt water pool, and rides (ibid 1975).

Despite the impacts of the Depression which led to the railroad’s closure and significant decline

in patronage, the park remained open until 1972 (ibid 1975).

68

FIGURE 34: ROLLERCOASTER AT CHESAPEAKE BEACH

NORTH BEACH RESORT

North Beach was established nearby and shortly after (ca. 1900) the opening of Chesapeake

Beach Resort. It was a private beach resort with hotels/boarding houses, gambling facilities, and,

eventually a surrounding summer colony.

The Calvert Hotel was a very popular accommodation at North Beach. It advertised beach

bathing, dancing, and a dining room over the bay all for $1 a day (Baltimore Sun

Advertisements 1912b)! Residence at another location, The Viola House, was also advertised in

a 1915(b) Baltimore Sun advertisement for $8 per week.

ROSE HAVEN

Rose Haven was established around 1947 by Joseph R. Rose, a New York entrepreneur and

gambler. Early on he dredged a half million cubic yards of the area’s salt marsh to build a 17-

acre boat harbor (Armscost 1991). In a little over a decade, Rose Haven boasted a marina, 120

homes, a swimming pool, motel, slot machines (which were operated illegally after the county

banned them; [“Slot-Machine Trial is Set” 1954]), an arcade, bingo hall, and a private clubhouse

for the Rose Haven Yacht Club (Armscost 1991; Levelle 2013). In order to bring business into

the area, Rose hosted annual fishing carnivals and beauty contests (McNally 1955; Armscost

1991) and sent out brochures saying: “Up through the mid-reaches of the Great Bay runs a

roadway to ecstasy . . . an enchanted thoroughfare where storm petrels fly in the twilight before

morning and great, majestic waves roll in a seafarer’s hornpipe to the cadence of the cloud-scud

above in an eternal testimonial to the sanctity of Truth and the constant chastity of the

Chesapeake Lady!” (“Inn at Herrington Harbor” 2015).

69

Rose Haven closed soon after Joe Rose’s death in 1974 and the property was abandoned until

1978 when the area was purchased and was eventually turned into Herrington Harbour.

FIGURE 35: ROSE HAVEN CA. 1950 (KILDUFFS 2016)

BOARDING HOUSES:

Wood Lawn Farm: Proprietor was F.O. Leatherbury (Baltimore Sun Advertisements

1902)

Franklin Manor Hotel (Iconic Places n.d.)

AFRICAN AMERICAN BEACH AREAS

African American resorts in this area are either non-existent or simply did not show up in the

media reviewed for this project. The only reference available was a picture in Baltimore’s Afro

American newspaper that showed young ladies at the beach of Rev. Smallwood Williams farm

in Deale (“They Are in the Swim” 1950).

EARLY BEACH COMMUNITIES: Summer communities begin to appear in the area once land transportation was developed and

improved—generally after 1920 (Table 12). These early communities developed around earlier industrial

and commercial towns like Tracy’s Landing, Deale, and Fair Haven.

FAIRHAVEN COMMUNITY

After the closing of the Fair Haven Hotel, the property was subdivided and small summer

colonies began to develop in the vicinity. A 1968 Baltimore Sun article indicates that the area

was still strictly known as a summer colony that housed mostly Methodist residents (Arnett

1968). It also indicated that African Americans weren’t allowed on the private beaches and that

“negro tenant farmers keep to themselves” (Arnett 1968).

These mid-late 20th century Fairhaven communities (Fairhaven Cliffs area) continued to use the

beaches for recreation and over time, built nettle nets and floating platforms in the Herring Bay

Cove (Iconic Places n.d.). The cost and labor of keeping up with the bay swimming facilities

was pushed aside and pools eventually became more favorable (ibid n.d.).

70

Fairhaven Cove Club:

In 1930, a group of residents from other portions of the county bought a parcel of land at

Fairhaven where they established a private beach club and meeting area. They built a

structure with a meeting room, dressing rooms, and bathrooms. Although use of the

beach property and structures was private, they occasionally allowed local residents to

use the building for programs including the Fairhaven Sunday School. Use of the

property declined after 1954 when Hurricane Hazel wiped out a majority the beach. In

1966, the local community leased and maintained it for fundraising projects. Vandalism

was an issue starting in the 1960s which eventually led to fires in the building in 1975

and 1977. The building fell into disrepair and was eventually torn down. (Iconic Places

n.d.)

TABLE 12: BEACH COMMUNITIES IN THE HERRING BAY AND DEALE AREA

No. on


24 Holland Point (addition to

North Beach Park) 1915 (Plat Bk. 2, p.13)

16 Masons Beach 1919 (Plat Bk. 15, p.47)

17 Owings Beach 1921 (Plat Bk. 15, p.26)

11 Franklin Manor on the Bay 1922 (Plat Bk 15, p.4)

19 Ark Haven/ Fair View 1922/1933 (Plat Bk. 2,

p.10)

22 Owings Cliffs 1923 (Plat Bk. 2, p.38)

13 Broadwater Beach 1924 (Plat Bk. 4, p.8)

21 Fair Haven Cliffs 1926 (Plat Bk. 1, p.26)

20 Herring Bay View 1927 (Plat Bk. 5, p.28)

12 Cape Battee 1928 (Plat Bk. 6, p. 35)

14 Deale Beach 1935 (Plat Bk. 9, p.50)

18 Highview on the Bay 1938 (Plat Bk. 10, p.42)

23 Rose Haven 1947 (Plat Bk. 20, p.10)

15 Mimosa Cove 1948 (Plat Bk. 21, p.9)

71

DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS As the preceding chapters have evidenced, the early 20

th beach resort phenomenon in Anne Arundel

County was a rapid and truly dynamic manifestation that transformed the county’s cultural, political, and

physical landscape permanently. Although it was likely not the primary force, this phenomenon was certainly a

major contributing factor that helped to propel the county towards modernization as it facilitated significant

development and economic growth in remote areas that had long been unused. Even as the focus had begun to

shift away from leisure/recreational public facilities, by the 1950s, the newly bolstered allure for shore property

only exacerbated the effects of the phenomenon and drove the expansion of year-round residential development

with fervor.

Needless to say, the phenomenon represents a significant era in the County’s history. Sadly though, its

importance remains largely unrecognized in public and governmental discourse. As is the case with many

important phenomena occurring within reach of public memory, this era is largely overshadowed by elements of

the county’s deep history (e.g. Colonial Period settlements). However, as time continues to pass, this Beach

Resort era sinks deeper and deeper into history and within another fifty years it will become a cherished aspect

not only because of its age but because of its pivotal role in shaping Anne Arundel County heritage.

Much of this important yet underappreciated era has unfortunately vanished from the landscape due to

continual structural development and erosion prior to adequate documentation. Exceptions do exist, including

several properties that have been recorded in the National Register of Historic Properties (NRHP) and the

Maryland Inventory of Historic Properties (MIHP) databases (see Table 13); however, because these

preservation initiatives tend to favor standing structures, most of the properties that have been recorded are

monumental in nature and are representative of the higher echelons of society. As a result, the more informal

beach destination sites and those that hosted minorities or lower class citizens have received far less attention

despite the fact that such sites are critically important to understanding the era more holistically. With that being

said, there have been valiant efforts made to collect and preserve community histories by various grassroots

organizations including local historical societies, independent researchers, and interested citizens; although much

of the content gathered has not been entered into any official archive.

72

TABLE 13: HISTORIC BEACH RESORT/COMMUNITY SITES LISTED ON THE NATIONAL AND STATE REGISTER OF HISTORIC

PROPERTIES

Name MIHP NRHP Location

Town of Bay Ridge AA-950, AA-809

(railroad bed) n/a Annapolis

Town of Highland Beach AA-721, AA 812-842 n/a Annapolis

Douglass Summer House (Twin Oaks)

AA-721 NRHP ID: 1097 Annapolis

(Highland Beach)

Town of Annapolis Roads AA-949 n/a Annapolis

Rogers/Solomsons Heights Historic District (Summer cottages for main estate)

AA-2312 n/a Annapolis

Arundel-on-the-Bay Summer Cottages

AA-810, AA-811 n/a Annapolis

Hilsmere Clubhouse/ Summer Cottage

AA-942 n/a Annapolis

Sherwood Forest AA-941 n/a Severn River

Camp Woodlands AA-2353 n/a South River

Beverly Beach Ski Club AA-2455 n/a Mayo

Andrews Hotel AA-301 n/a Shady Side

Captain Salem Avery House and Museum (associated with the Masonic Fishing Club at Shady Side)

AA-65 NRHP ID: 1487 Shady Side

Bay View Inn AA-300 n/a Shady Side

Town of Galesville AA-2242 & associated

sites n/a Galesville

Early 20th century house/cottage(?) in Cedarhurst-on-the-Bay

AA-2243 n/a Shady Side

Cottages at Contee’s Wharf (cluster of family summer cottages)

AA-2068, AA-239 n/a West River

Sandy Point State Park AA-2305 n/a Broadneck

Gibson Island AA-936 n/a Magothy River

Fort Smallwood Park AA-898 n/a North Co/Patapsco

North Beach Survey District CT-219 (& associated

listings: CT-1188, 1215-1253, 1275)

n/a Calvert County,

North Beach

Chesapeake Beach CT-98 (& associated

listings: CT-100, 1207, 1287

Railway Station: NRHP ID: 644

Calvert County, Chesapeake Beach

73

TABLE 14: SITES NOT LISTED ON THE NRHP OR MIHP BUT HAVE BEEN RECORDED BY OTHER MEASURES OR ARE TODAY

INCORPORATED INTO THE PARK SYSTEM.

Name Archaeology Site Comment Location

Archaeological remains of an 1880’s hotel site

18AN1207 -- North County:

Rock Creek

Beverly-Triton Beach 18AN1312/18AN1313

Archaeology site designations &

Currently a County owned park

Mayo Peninsula

Mayo Beach Park - Currently a County

owned park Mayo Peninsula

Beachwood Park - Currently a County

owned park Magothy River

Severn Bridge Beach/ Jonas Green Park

- Currently County

owned park Severn River

Mago Vista Park** -

**Currently County owned park but it is

not at the original location

Magothy River

Because past research has revolved around monumental sites like Bay Ridge, the sites that have received

official documentation tend to be those that were owned, operated, and patronized by the white majority. In fact,

the only minority represented beach-resort era sites included on the MIHP or NRHP are those related to the

African American summer colony of Highland Beach (AA-721, and AA-812 to AA-842) and the Captain Salem

Avery House and Museum (AA-65) which was the location of a Jewish fishing club in Shady Side. This under-

representation of minority-related sites leads to a distortion of the era in a multitude of ways and is a serious

issue that needs to be addressed.

Such a circumstance is an issue firstly because it fundamentally excludes the presence of minorities

along the coastline in any sense other than as laborers and skews the diverse experiences of beach-side recreation

during the era. Minorities enjoyed the Bay and its tributaries for the same reasons the white majority did, but

circumstances forced their facilities to be separate as a result of structural oppression which limited location and

type of development. Separation was a also conscious choice on the part of minority groups, considering that

they too wanted their own safe havens away from the imposing white majority.

Secondly, by deeming only the formal and more elaborate beach ‘resorts’ (which are predominately

associated with the white majority) as worthy of inclusion on historic property inventories implicitly suggests

that other places like those formulated by minorities are otherwise insignificant and not worth saving or

investigating. For example, as Table 13 shows, although various historic summer cottages, amusement parks,

and communities are listed they are all are associated with whites; meanwhile, various well-known African

American sites including Carr’s and Sparrow’s Beach, Beachwood Park, and Columbia Beach are just as

historically significant and influential during the era but have been excluded. Therefore, it is recommended that

future research seek to incorporated more sites associated with minorities.

Additionally, because the majority of sites identified during this project were not comparable to the

grandiose Bay Ridge and Chesapeake Beach resorts, future researchers should be sensitive to the diverse

74

experiences of beach leisure and should attempt to broaden the traditional definition of ‘beach resort’ to

incorporate the less-glamourous and informal practices/facilities that also manifested during the period.

Although, understandably, it is harder to preserve something that is no longer present (in the case of the smaller

amusement parks) or intangible (for instance, a hub of minority beach recreation like Magothy Park Beach), such

sites significantly shaped the era and deserve far more recognition in local historic narratives.

On that same note, since most documentation efforts have been site-focused, the broader significance of

the recreation phenomenon and its sheer impact on the county has yet to be fully investigated. It was not just a

few ‘resort’ sites that marked this transformational period but the larger trend as a whole. Countless facilities

developed along nearly the entire coast, creating tremendous growth in Anne Arundel County. Therefore, future

research should also pay more attention to the reverberations over time that began with the beach resort era.

There needs to be far more focus on the social and political trials and tribulations during this period of

modernization, including how residents reacted and adjusted to changes, how the resorts operated, their

influences on the social and physical landscape near and far, the impacts of racial and class-based exclusivity,

and how each resort compared and operated in relation to one another.

In conclusion, the increased use of Anne Arundel County’s shores for summer recreation was a direct

societal expression and reaction to broader nationwide shifts that occurred from the mid-19th through the mid-

20th centuries. It is how these changes played out throughout the beach resort era that has led us to where we are

today and unfortunately, very few people are aware of it. If we continue to allow this past to wash away with

time, more and more of its information potential will disappear with it. Ironically, the history of this era has

become increasingly more relevant as water-privileged communities still try to keep their beach-fronts private,

which is in direct opposition to the initial forces that led to the development of those communities in the first

place. This contemporary controversy and struggle for shore access is merely one instance where understanding

historically embedded concepts might assist in finding resolution.

FIGURE 36: BEVERLY TRITON BEACH PARK IN 2015

75

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Appendix A- i

APPENDIX A: Public Outreach Events/Material

Mayo Beach Park: August 7, 2016

On Sunday August 7, 2016 Anne Arundel County’s Cultural Resource Division (CRD) of the Planning

and Zoning Department organized and hosted a public outreach event at Mayo Beach Park from 11:00am –

4:00pm. Supporting organizations and partnerships included the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority, Anne

Arundel County Trust for Preservation, the Four Rivers Heritage Area, and Anne Arundel County’s Recreation

and Parks department. The event’s purpose was to educate and excite the public about Anne Arundel County’s

historic beach resort past. Advertisements sent out prior to the event attempted to entice people to come to not

only learn but to contribute as well. Requests were made for attendees to bring memorabilia they had for any of

the County’s beach resorts including photographs, souvenirs, videos, personal stories, and advertisements. The

CRD team also encouraged event attendees to provide oral histories at the event. Two rooms were set aside with

both audio and video equipment in order to adequately capture these moments.

The event was quite successful as approximately 500 visitors were reported to have attended.

Additionally, a total of 20 local community organizations and several authors contributed by hosting information

tables at the event (see table below). These organizations ranged from independent researchers to community

historical societies. The CRD team also managed to record six oral histories and collected a range of material

from various attendees (see table below). Three local researchers/history buffs also volunteered to give a guest

lecture at the event. These individuals included Lara Lutz, the author of Chesapeake Western Shore Vintage

Land; Darald Lofgren, the Mayo Beach Park ranger and history buff, and finally Connie Butler Holland, a

researcher of Anne Arundel County’s African American history. Food and refreshments were also provided by

the Galesville Community Center Organization.

All collected material has been digitized and is available at the CRD office at 2664 Riva Rd., Annapolis,

MD 21401.

FIGURE 37: MAYO BEACH PUBLIC DAY AUGUST 2016

Appendix A- ii

Organizations Represented at Mayo Beach Event:

Columbia Beach Community Andrew W. Kahrl (Author of This Land Was Ours)

Mago Vista Community & Anne Arundel County Historical Society

Patsy Mose Fletcher (Author of Historically African-American Leisure Destinations around Washington DC)

Mayo Beach Park History Mayo Heritage Society & Lara Lutz (Author of Chesapeake’s Western Shore: Vintage Vacationland)

Carr’s and Sparrows Beach Parks Anne Arundel Co. Cultural Resources Department

Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum Community Lost Towns Project, Inc.

Bayside Beach Community Anne Arundel Co. Trust for Preservation, Inc.

Galesville Community Center Organization Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture

Deale Area Historical Society Anne Arundel Co. Genealogical Society

Advocates of Herring Bay/Fairhaven Four Rivers Heritage Area

Captain Salem Avery Museum West/Rhode Riverkeeper

ORAL HISTORIES:

Interviewee Topic Discussed Interviewer

Stephen Israel Excavations at the Saunders Point Site (18AN39) Stephanie Sperling

Pat Grigsby & Debbie Gingell Lyndra Marshall

Joe Cordone Mayo and Beverly-Triton Beach Parks Lyndra Marshall

Marjorie Johnson History of South County Lyndra Marshall

Robert Benson Mago Vista Beach Park Stephanie Sperling

Susan Law Bay Ridge and other beaches Stephanie Sperling

OTHER MEDIA COLLECTED:

Name Material Collected

Bill Bacard Mayo Beach photos

Susan Law Photos from Bay Ridge

CJ Menshaw Ponder Cove summer cottage blueprint

Robert Benson PowerPoint document with images of Mago Vista Beach Park

Columbia Beach Community Association

Images and other historic documents regarding the Columbia Beach Community

Appendix A- iii

Wayside Public Information Signs and Brochure Development

The Learn S’Mores History project personnel contributed to the development of two wayside public

information signs and a historic resources brochure that were installed and distributed at Mayo Beach Park and

Beverly-Triton Beach Park (Figure 39 and Figure 40).

On April 26, 2017 an unveiling of one of the signs took place at the Mayo Beach Park. Local

government representatives and other individuals involved in the County’s historic heritage initiatives attended.

FIGURE 38: SIGN UNVEILING AT MAYO BEACH PARK APRIL 26, 2017

Appendix A- iv

FIGURE 39: SIGN INSTALLED AT BEVERLY-TRITON BEACH PARK

Appendix A- v

FIGURE 40: SIGN INSTALLED AT MAYO BEACH PARK

Appendix A- vi

History Hike at Beverly-Triton Beach Park: April 22, 2017

On April 22, 2017 Mandy Melton and Stephanie Sperling conducted a heritage hike through Beverly-

Triton Beach Park. The major theme for the hike incorporated the changing landscape of the park from 2,000

years ago up to today. Discussions focused on the park’s bygone Beach Resort past but also incorporated

information about the other archaeological sites within the park, including Native American shell middens and

the historic homesteads of the early watermen and farmers.

Registration for the hike was open to 15 participants and lasted approximately two (2) hours. Stopping

points along the tour are presented in the figures below.

FIGURE 41: BEVERLY-TRITON HERITAGE HIKE TRAIL MAP (FRONT)

Appendix A- vii

FIGURE 42: BEVERLY-TRITON HERITAGE HIKE TRAIL MAP (BACK)

Appendix A- viii

Spring Plein Air Paint Out! Event: April 29, 2017

A Plein Air ‘Paint Out!’ event took place at Beverly Triton Beach Park on Saturday, April 29, 2017 from

8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Members of the Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association were challenged to capture the

essence of the site (Figure 43). Ten painters spent the day at the park and engaged with the public during the

event.

FIGURE 43: THE PLEIN AIR PAINT EVENT AT BEVERLY TRITON BEACH PARK

Appendix B- i

APPENDIX B: Maps Used During Cartographic Study

See attached CD for the following maps:

1940s Road Map: “Anne Arundel County, Maryland”. Prepared by the Maryland State Roads

Commission, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Public Roads, data

obtained from, State-Wide Highway Planning Survey.

1950s Road Map: “General Highway Map: Anne Arundel County”. Prepared by the Maryland State

Roads Commission, Traffic Division, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of

Public Roads, data obtained from, State-Wide Highway Planning Survey.

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